Several petitions had been filed before this Court by Women Organisations and on the basis of the note prepared by the Registrar General that in
respect of sexual harassment cases the Complaints Committees were not formed in accordance with the guidelines issued by this Court in Vishaka
Vs. State of Rajasthan (1997 (6) SCC 241 and that these petitions fell under clause (6) of the PIL Guidelines given by this Court i.e. "" Atrocities on
Women"" and in any event the Guidelines set out in Vishaka were no t being followed. Thereupon, this Court treated the petitions as writ petitions filed
in publi c interest.
Notice had been issued to several parties including the Governments concerned and on getting a ppropriate responses from them and now after
hearing learned Attorney General for UOI and lear ned counsel, we direct as follows:
Complaints Committee as envisaged by the Supreme Court in its judgment in Vishaka’s Case, 19 97 (6) SCC 241 at 253, will be deemed to be an
inquiry authority for the purposes of Central C ivil Services(Conduct) Rules, 1964(hereinafter called CCS Rules) and the report of the complai nts
Committee shall be deemed to be an inquiry report under the CCS rules. Thereafter the disc iplinary authority will act on the report in accordance with
the rules.
Similar amendments shall also be carried out in The Industrial Employment(Standing Orders) Rules.
Further directions in relation to educational institutions and other establishments will be ma de subsequently as it is not very clear whether all the
parties concerned in this regard have been served or not. Let a note be prepared as to which of the parties have been served on this aspect of the
matter and what their responses are. For further orders list in July, 2004.
