Form committees to prevent sexual harassment at edu institutions: HC

The High Court yesterday directed the authorities concerned to constitute committees for preventing sexual harassment at all educational institutions across the country.

The education ministry and University Grants Commission have been asked to implement this directive in compliance with the 2009 HC verdict. 

The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel delivered the order after holding hearing on a petition moved by lawyers ZI Khan Panna, Syeda Nasrin and Md Shahinuzzaman on behalf of rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), seeking necessary directives.

Following the same petition, the HC on January 9 last year issued a rule asking the authorities concerned of the government to explain why their inaction and failure to implement the 2009 HC directives should not be declared illegal.

In response to another petition, the HC on May 14, 2019 issued a set of guidelines … and also directed the government to make a law on the basis of the guidelines, and ruled that the guidelines will be treated as a law until the law is incorporated.

In response to another petition, the HC on May 14, 2019 issued a set of guidelines defining sexual misdemeanours to prevent any kind of physical, mental or sexual harassment of women, girls and children at their workplaces, educational institutions and other public places including roads across the country.

The court also directed the government to make a law on the basis of the guidelines, and ruled that the guidelines will be treated as a law until the law is incorporated.