Women Grievance Redressal Cell
As an innovative practice, the Institution has established Women’s Grievance Cell with the objectives of redressing the grievances of the students and the staff, of any sort related to women. In 1997, the Supreme Court in Vishakha and others vs. State of Rajasthan, recognised and addressed the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace. The judgement created mandatory sexual harassment prevention guidelines for the workplace, applicable all over India. The knowledge and information about it can lead to a workplace free of sexual harassment for all persons. Sexual harassment injects the most demeaning sexual stereotypes into the general work environment and always represents an intentional assault on a person’s innermost privacy.
In compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court of India to have a special Sexual Harassment Committee as mandatory, the Women’s Grievance Cell also functions as Sexual Harassment Committee.
It provides confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who might likely have been sexually harassed; advises complainant of the informal and formal means of redressal; ensures the fair and timely redressal of sexual harassment complaints. (However so far no instances of sexual harassment have been reported)
It provides information regarding counselling and support services on the campus, and promotes awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives that encourages and fosters a respectful and safe campus environment.
Objective of the Women’s Grievance Redressal Cell
The Cell will deal with the cases / complaints of sexual harassment and any other type of harassment of the female students, teaching and non-teaching women staff of the college.
The Cell shall process all the individual complaints and take immediate suitable action.
The Cell will provide assistance to the Faculty/Colleges for taking preventive steps in the matter of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
The Principal will be the Chairman of the Cell and may appoint members of the cell.
The Cell may form / review the guidelines / policy for redressal of the grievance as required from time to time, which may be in accordance with those issued by Supreme Court and Government Agencies.
Grievance Procedure:
Any women employee or female student will have the right to lodge a complaint concerning sexual harassment against a male student or the employee of the institute by writing a letter or putting the complaint in the Principal’s office.
The complaint will be afforded full confidentiality at this stage.
After receiving the complaint, the chairman shall convene the meeting of the cell.
The chairman will appoint investigation committee, Coordinator will convene the meetings.
The investigation committee shall then decide the course of action to proceed.
The complaint will stand dropped if in accordance to the committee the complaint has not been able to disclose prima-facie an offence of sexual harassment by complainer /her representative.
In case the investigation committee decides to proceed with the complaint, the wishes of the complainer shall be ascertained and if the complainer wishes that a warning will suffice then alleged offender shall be called to the meeting of the committee, heard and if satisfied that a warning is just and proper, he will be warned about his behavior and non-occurrence of it. In case the complainer requests that the complaint should be proceeded with beyond mere a warning, the same may be proceeded with in the manner prescribed hereafter.
Punishment for sexual harassment
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Any member of the institute fraternity (student/employee/outsider related to institute) found guilty of sexual harassment shall be liable to be punished. This shall be subject to the same penalties for major or minor misconduct as prescribed under government/ university rules.
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A student guilty of sexual harassment shall be liable for any of the following penalties:
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a) Warning or reprimand.
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b) Suspension from university/ college for a period of one month.
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c) Debarment from appearing for the examination for a period up to three years.
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d) Rustication from the university as the case may be.
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e) Any other punishment as defined by the government/ university act.
The Cell seeks to achieve
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Awareness Through Dissemination of Information – through production, distribution and circulation of printed materials, posters and handouts
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Awareness Through Workshops – about sexual harassment for faculty, non-teaching staff and students. The aim is to develop non-threatening and non-intimidating atmosphere of mutual learning.
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Awareness by Counseling – Confidential counseling service is an important service as it provides a safe space to speak about the incident and how it has affected the victim because sexual harassment cases are rarely reported as it is being a sensitive issue.
Grievance Redressal Committee Report
Committee Member
| Sr. No. | Name of the Committee Member | Designation |
| 1 | Dr. Jadhav V.M. | Chairman |
| 2 | Dr. Mule B.M. | Member |
| 3 | Asst. prof. Wagh S.G. | Member |
| 4 | Asst. prof. Khandave S.T. | Member |
| 5 | Asst. prof. Amrit S.V. | Member |
| 6 | Asst. prof. Punde M.N. | Physical Director |
| 7 | Mrs. Sathe S.G. | Non-teaching Member |