(1)There shall be an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as the primary body to ensure prevention, prohibition and handling of occurrences relating to Sexual harassment or misconduct against any member of the teaching or non-teaching staff and students of the University or its Constituent Colleges, as applicable.

(2)The ICC shall have thirteen members, of which at least seven members shall be women. The composition of these members is as follows: -

(a)woman teacher of the University not below the rank of Professor nominated by the Vice Chancellor - Presiding Member;

(b)Proctor;

(c)two teachers of the University nominated by the Dean (Academic Affairs) such that at least one of them is women;

(d)two students nominated by the University Student Council such that at least one of them is women;

(e)two Head of the University Departments nominated on rotational basis by the Vice Chancellor such that at least one of them is women;

(f)two non-teaching staff of the University, nominated by the Vice Chancellor;

(g)two eminent woman academician from outside the University as an external members; and

(h)one woman advocate nominated by the Vice Chancellor. In case of an occurrence or incident in any Constituent College the following additional members shall be the part of the committee as mentioned in sub-section(2) of this section; -

(i)two faculty members nominated by the Principal of the Concerned College such that at least one of them is women; and

(j)two students nominated by the concerned College Students Union such that at least one of them is women.

(3)The term of all the nominated members for the purpose of membership in this Committee shall be One (01) Year.

(4)The quorum for all the meetings of the Committee shall be set at half of the total members.

(5)The Vice Chancellor may provide for allowances or sitting fees of external members as may be prescribed by the Statutes or Rules.

(6)The responsibilities of the ICC are as follows: -

(a)to provide necessary assistance if an employee or student chooses to file a complaint with the police;,

(b)protect the safety of the complainant by not divulging the person’s identify and providing the mandatory relief by way of sanctioned leave or relaxation of attendance requirement, or transfer department or supervisor as required to another during the pendency of the complaint or also provide for the transfer of the offender;

(c)ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimised or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment;

(d)ensure prohibition of retaliation or adverse action against a covered individual because the employee or the student is engaged in a protected activity;

(e)provide mechanism for dispute redressal and dialogue to anticipate and address incidents through just and fair reconciliation without undermining complainants’ right and minimize the need for punitive approaches that lead to further resentment, alienation or violence;

(f)Sensitize the students and employees about the incidents or occurrences which may be considered as sexual harassment;

(g)Identify vulnerable groups within the University or College prone to harassment and provide them with suitable corrective measures;

(h)Formulate and implement the anti-sexual harassment policy and conduct regular reviews to ascertain its efficacy;

(i)Develop and roll-out of orientation courses for administrators with a compulsory module on gender sensitization;

(j)Institutionalising Counselling Services at the University or College Campus with well-trained Counsellors;

(k)Ensure that reliable and adequate public transport, hostels, laboratories and main buildings is available for Women employees in the University or College Campus;

(l)Ensure that adequate health facilities are available for women employees and students, campus safety policies are put in place and Women Development Cells and Gender Sensitization Programmes are carried out in the University;

(m)Formulate Rules and University Ordinances in line with relevant guidelines or policies of University Grants Commission and other Statutory Bodies;

(n)Provide for the mechanism of lodgement, hearing and disposal of complaints for the ICC;

(o)Develop mechanism for interim and final redressal of any incident or occurrence as may be prescribed by the Statutes or University Ordinances; and

(p)Lay down punitive actions or punishments against harassers and frivolous complainants. In addition to the committees constituted under this Act, the University may constitute other committee(s) with suitable terms and reference for any specific task.

CHAPTER VI: SELECTION, APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION OF OFFICERS, TEACHING AND non-teaching EMPLOYEES OF THE UNIVERSITY