Women employees of the central government who file complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace, will get 90 days paid leave during the pendency of the inquiry under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The same news was doing rounds last year on July 17. Due to unknown reasons, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has issued a gazette again in this regard on 15th March, 2017.

Last year link: The Times Of India, India Today and there are many.

The leave granted to the aggrieved central government female employees will not be debited against the leave account and will be counted in addition to the leaves already granted to them.

Furthermore, the special leaves will only be provided on the recommendation of the internal committee or the local committee formed to deal with such matters.

The DoPT also issued Central Civil Services (Leave) Amendment Rules, 2017 to allow the new provision.

The move is significant as there have been various complaints of those accused of sexual violence attempting to influence or threaten the victims.

The onus to protect the complainant against victimisation, falls upon the central government ministries and departments. All ministries require to submit monthly reports to the ministry of women and child development to monitor its effectiveness.

As per the guidelines, the aggrieved woman also has the option of sending a representation to the secretary or head of the organisation in case she felt she was being victimised because of her complaint. The authority concerned would be required to dispose of this complaint within 15 days.

Also Read: Life Story: I Told My Son How I Get Sexually Harassed