Leh, Jan 31: An awareness programme on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was organised by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Leh at the District Court Complex here on Saturday.
The programme was held to familiarise government officials, legal professionals and frontline workers with the legal safeguards available to women against workplace harassment and the institutional mechanism prescribed under the law.
The event was attended by Wangail Tsering, Sub Judge, Leh and Secretary, DLSA Leh; Tsering Phuntsog, Deputy Director of Prosecution, Union Territory of Ladakh; Jigmet Phuntsog, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Leh Court; Nema Stanzin, Deputy Chief, Ladakh Autonomous District Council; Advocate Phuntsog Stobgyal, Assistant, Ladakh Autonomous District Council; members of the Bar Association, employees of the Social Welfare Department, Leh, officials of the District Child Protection Unit, Leh, court staff and Para Legal Volunteers.
Advocate Phuntsog Stobgyal, while giving an introductory address, outlined the purpose of the Act and said that the legislation seeks to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace and to provide protection to women by ensuring a safe and secure working environment.
Addressing the gathering, Tsering Phuntsog, Deputy Director of Prosecution, spoke in detail about the framework of the POSH Act, 2013. He stressed the need for every department and office to constitute Internal Committees and underlined the importance of setting up a Local Committee at the district level to ensure proper and timely implementation of the law.
Wangail Tsering, Sub Judge, Leh and Secretary, DLSA Leh, explained the main provisions of the Act, including the definition of sexual harassment, the structure of Internal Complaints Committees and Local Committees, the procedure for filing complaints, the inquiry process and the submission of reports by the committees.
He clarified that the Act makes it mandatory for both Local and Internal Complaints Committees to be established for addressing complaints related to sexual harassment at the workplace.
The Sub Judge also described the duties and powers of these committees in government and public institutions and explained the meaning and scope of sexual harassment through case laws and practical illustrations. He further referred to the 1997 judgment of the Supreme Court which laid down guidelines on workplace sexual harassment and later became the foundation for the present legislation.
The programme concluded with an interaction session aimed at improving awareness about legal remedies and institutional responsibilities under the POSH Act.
