Bhubaneswar, April 12 The Regional Directorate of Education (RDE), Bhubaneswar, has directed all government, aided, unaided, and professional colleges under its jurisdiction to constitute Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) with immediate effect to avoid any punitive action, informed the Higher Education Department of the Odisha government on Sunday.
The Higher educational institutions have also been asked to submit the compliance reports within seven days. The directive comes in continuation of earlier instructions issued by the state Higher Education Department, directing educational institutions across the state to form the ICCs.
In this latest letter issued on April 10 by the Regional Director, RDE, Dr Saroj Laxmi Singh, the institutions have also been instructed to form the ICC in line with government guidelines to address complaints and grievances of students and staff.
The directorate has also asked colleges that have already constituted the committee to submit relevant documentation within the stipulated timeframe.
The directive emphasises strict adherence, warning that failure to comply may result in admission restrictions for the 2026–27 academic session or other appropriate action as deemed necessary.
"In case of non-compliance of this letter, admission restriction may be imposed on the institutions for the session 2026-27 or any suitable action as deemed proper will be initiated," reads the order.
It is pertinent here to note that in 2025, the Higher Education Department had also directed vice-chancellors and college principals to ensure strict compliance with Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) norms.
The higher educational Institutions were asked to submit details of ICC members, prominently display their names and contact numbers at key locations on campus, and organise workshops to sensitise students and faculty about the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act.
The directive was issued following the self-immolation attempt by a 20-year-old student of FM College, Balasore, on July 12, 2025, reportedly due to harassment by college faculty. She later succumbed to burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14, triggering statewide outrage.
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