The Adarsh Institute of Technology & Research Center, Vita College has constituted an Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act and Rule 2013 implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. The Ministry of Human Resource Development via notification dated 2nd May, 2016 made University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women employees and students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulation, 2015. It is a comprehensive legislation to provide a safe, secure and enabling environment, free from sexual harassment to every woman. This statute was enacted to fill the legislative void which had been partially addressed by the judiciary in Vishakha and Others v. State of Rajasthan and others (1997 (7) SCC 323). In this seminal public interest litigation verdict, the Supreme Court of India had framed a set of guidelines (“Vishakha Guidelines“) for dealing with instances of sexual harassment at the workplace, which has now been codified in the POSH Act. Under the POSH Act, an employer is legally required to comply with certain statutory requirements. One of these is the constitution of an Internal Complaints Committee (“ICC”), a body envisaged to receive complaints on sexual harassment at the workplace from an aggrieved woman, as well as to inquire into and make recommendations to the employer on the action required pursuant to its inquiry of such complaint made.

UGC Regulation states the responsibility of HEIs to act decisively against all gender based violence against employees and students of all sexes and to reinforce its commitment to creating its campus free from discrimination, harassment, retaliation and any form of sexual assault.

According to Supreme Court Guidelines Sexual Harassment can be defined as unwelcome sexually determined behavior whether directly or by implication as

• 1. Physical contact and advances
• 2. Demand or request for sexual favors
• 3. Making sexually coloured remarks
• 4. Showing pornography
• 5. Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or nonverbal conduct of sexual nature.

Objective and Role of ICC

• 1. To create social awareness about the problems of women and in particular regarding gender discrimination.
• 2. To develop the self-confidence of Women.
• 3. To assert the importance of spiritual, economic, social, racial, and gender equality.
• 4. To highlight the importance of health and hygiene.
• 5. To direct Women’s role in society.
• 6. o develop a multidisciplinary approach for the overall personality development.
• 7. To organize seminars and workshops relating to women development.
• 8. To promote the general well-being of female students, teaching, and non-teaching women staff of the College.