PIL for statutory safety mechanism to protect minor girls

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court seeking the establishment of complaint redressal committees and a statutory safety mechanism in every school and junior college across the state to prevent incidents of sexual harassment, ensure grievance redressal and provide effective monitoring. The petition has been filed to ensure the safety, dignity and protection of minor girls below the age of 18.

In connection with the petition, justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten Venegaonkar directed the central government to file its reply by February 20. The next hearing will be held on February 26.

Government resolution not implemented

The state government’s school education and sports department had issued a government resolution on March 10, 2022 in this regard. However, as the required statutory safety mechanisms and institutional measures for the protection of minor girls have not been properly or effectively implemented, the public interest litigation has been filed personally (party-in-person) by advocate Akshara Sharad Padke. She has stated that due to the absence of a structured and effective monitoring mechanism, minor girls continue to remain unsafe and the objectives of protective laws and policies are being defeated.

Complaint redressal committee

The petition demands strict implementation of the said government resolution. It also seeks the formation of a complaint redressal committee in every school and junior college where girls below 18 years of age are studying. The committee should include women members such as a woman advocate, a woman psychologist, a woman police constable from the local police station, a woman parent representative, and a woman representative from a local non-governmental organisation experienced in handling cases of sexual harassment.

In addition, the petition seeks the formation of a staff recruitment committee to verify the background of employees working in educational institutions and to ensure their qualifications. It also calls for the establishment of a tehsil-level supervision committee to monitor the formation and functioning of the above two committees and to ensure accountability.