Jawaharlal Nehru University has Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment, a central body which deals with complaints of this nature. (File photo)
Barely a few months after the JNU notified an amended sexual harassment policy, it has decided to review the revised rules.
The administration's decision to do so has not gone down well with a section of teachers and students, while the university is keeping mum over the reason behind the move.
Jawaharlal Nehru University has Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH), a central body which deals with complaints of this nature.
"The Vice Chancellor has constituted a committee to look into the revised rules and regulations concerning GSCASH and to examine and recommend necessary changes with immediate effect. However, while reviewing the GSCASH rules, the committee will ensure that the Workplace Act 2013 be adhered to," an official notification said.
The university which received maximum number of sexual harassment complaints by any educational institution in Delhi in the last two years, had notified the revamped policy last October.
Major amendments to the policy included introduction of a provision for protection of the complainant as well as witnesses from victimisation, besides a penalty provision for false complaints.
The revamped policy also had different clauses for 'Sexual Harassment at Workplace' and 'Sexual Harassment in Academic Spheres' and for re-appealing if the complainant is dissatisfied with university's decision.
However, the university administration has again constituted a committee to review the policy.
Baffled over the varsity's move Ayesha Kidwai, professor at JNU's Centre for Linguistics, said, "The JNU EC has used these rules to punish a faculty member, besides other employees. The GSCASH has had no problem working with these rules. Yet our beloved administration feels that something needs to be changed and has appointed a committee quite mysteriously."
"What is to be examined? Why are changes necessary? Who is asking for them? Why was GSCASH kept completely in the dark about the things that need to be examined?," she asked. A student councillor alleged that the university wanted to curtail the election process for the body.
"The university wants to do away with the election process for GSCASH and that is why this secret amendment of rules is being worked upon. They want to abolish student representation in the body and only have nominations by the VC. We all know how transparent the functioning will be then," she said.
Calls and text messages to JNU Vice Chancellor and Chief Proctor seeking comments about the reasons behind the decision to revise the policy twice within six months, went unanswered. GSCASH was constituted by the university in 1999 under the Vishaka guidelines of the Supreme Court.
The panel has representatives from JNU Students Union (JNUSU), JNU Officers' Association (JNUOA), hostel wardens, faculty and administrative staff.
While the university had attracted criticism last year with over 50 per cent of the sexual harassment complaints in educational institutions being received by JNU, a group of varsity teachers had also questioned the working of GSCASH, alleging that its "processes are perverted".