MDU staff ‘force’ women to click photo of private parts, sanitary pads as menstruation proof, booked
Rohtak: Three officials from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in Rohtak have been booked after two women sanitation workers alleged they were forced to take photographs of their private parts and sanitary pads to prove they were menstruating.
The University, on its part, suspended two sanitation supervisors and has ordered an internal probe into the incident, as reported by The Indian Express on Friday.
The FIR was registered on Wednesday against sanitation supervisors Vitender and Vinod Hooda and assistant registrar Shyam Sunder at PGIMS police station, SHO Roshan Lal said. “The FIR includes charges under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment, assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe and outrage a woman’s modesty, criminal intimidation, and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman,” TIE quoted Lal as saying.
The incident occurred on October 26 while they were cleaning the university’s sports complex.
Four female sanitation workers have accused their male supervisors at MDU of harassment and undue pressure to work faster, despite clearly stating they were unwell. The supervisors reportedly insisted they speed up their work and, when the women explained they couldn’t due to menstrual pain, the supervisors allegedly told them: “You click photos of your private parts as proof so that the menstrual cycle can be confirmed’. When two of us refused to follow the instructions, we were abused and threatened with dismissal.”
The incident triggered widespread outrage, with sanitation workers staging a protest and directly confronting one of the accused. The demonstration also garnered support from students, who gathered in solidarity to demand justice.
Meanwhile, the University emphasised that any incident of insecurity or harassment in the workplace will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The university reiterated its commitment to “always providing a safe, respectful, and culturally sensitive” work environment. It added that “the safety and respect of women are paramount, and that the strictest action will be taken against any form of inappropriate behaviour or misconduct”.
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NCW sets up panel to probe alleged sexual harassment at TCS Nashik
New Delhi (PTI): The National Commission for Women on Wednesday said it has set up a fact-finding committee to probe the alleged incidents of sexual harassment of employees at a Tata Consultancy Services BPO unit in Nashik, Maharashtra.
In a statement, the Commission said the panel will visit the facility on April 17 to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry, examine the circumstances leading to the incident and assess the response of the authorities.
"The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of serious media reports concerning alleged incidents of sexual harassment of women at the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) BPO unit in Nashik, Maharashtra," the statement read.
"Taking a serious view of the matter, the Commission, in exercise of its powers under Section 8 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, has constituted a fact-finding committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident. The committee will visit the place of incident on 17th April," it added.
The allegations, which surfaced during an initial inquiry triggered by a complaint related to religious practices, include claims of sexual harassment, rape and attempts at forced religious conversion of female employees by by certain individuals in supervisory roles, the Commission said.
The committee comprises retired Bombay High Court Justice Sadhna Jadhav, former Haryana DGP B K Sinha, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora and NCW Senior Coordinator Lilabati.
It has been tasked with interacting with victims, police officials, company representatives and other stakeholders, identifying lapses, if any, and recommending appropriate action against those responsible.
The panel will also suggest remedial measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents and strengthen workplace safety mechanisms for women.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the NCW within 10 working days, following which it will present its findings in person, the statement said.
