97% firms not aware of sexual harassment at workplace law in India!

August 23, 2015

New Delhi, Aug 23: Even though the government is trying hard to crack the whip on employers not adhering to law pertaining to sexual harassment of women at workplace, a large chunk of the private sector is yet to have any awareness about the regulation.

harassment
A recent survey carried out by a company on compliance of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 has indicated that 97 per cent of the organisations are not aware about the law and its implementation.

Besides, responses to RTI applications by the company have revealed that only one state - Rajasthan - has appointed the mandatory Local Complaints Committee and Nodal Officers through its District Officers for monitoring of the law, while seven others - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chattisgarh and Goa - have initiated the process partially. According to the company officials, awareness about the law and its applicability is the biggest challenge.

"There are several myths related to the law like one need not comply in case there are no women employees or if you are a small or medium enterprise. Further, companies also feel that the law is for the protection of women employees only and not all women involved. Most of them don't know that an organisation is liable even if the victim is not an employee," said Vishal Kedia, Director of Complykaro.

Over 520 cases of sexual harassment of women at workplace were reported during 2014, of which, 57 cases were reported in office premises and 469 registered at other places related to work, the Women and Child Development Ministry had informed Parliament during the recently-concluded monsoon session.

"People need to be made aware that there are disclosure requirements in the annual report, apart from annual report filing by Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) with the district officer," he said.

The WCD Ministry has written to the Corporate Affairs Ministry asking it to notify constitution of ICC as a mandatory disclosure under Section 134 of the Companies Act.

The law, enacted in December 2013, was laid down to ensure that women in particular are protected against sexual harassment at all workplaces, be it public or private. Under the law, it became mandatory to have an anti-sexual harassment policy in place as well as for a committee to be formed in addition to reports being filed with the government for the same.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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