Sexual harassment at workplace: File FIR based on complaints by sportspersons

As the Delhi Police Commissioner refused to meet a delegation of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) they staged a protest at the Delhi Police Head Quarters (PHQ) at Jai Singh Road, Central Delhi. NFIW members went to the PHQ to submit a memorandum to the Police Commissioner demanding immediate filing of an FIR based on the complaint given by young women wrestlers.
The protesters led by Annie Raja, General Secretary NFIW were detained by the police and taken to the Parliament Street police station and the DCP received the memorandum, addressed to Sanjay Arora, Commissioner of Police. Later they joined the wrestlers who were sitting on a day and night dharna at Jantar Mantar. Text of the memorandum:

***

The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) hereby registers its strong protest at the failure of Delhi Police to register an FIR on the complaints filed by the women wrestlers against Mr. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, WFI President and MP.
Filing of FIR is the primary legal step of the justice process on complainants of sexual harassment. The POSH Act clearly states that the police is required to file an FIR and then investigate the crime, and not the other way round.
National Women wrestlers have accused the WFI president of criminal intimidation and sexual harassment.
The complainants are those young women who won national and international laurels for the country. With their sweat, on many occasions, our National Flag was proudly hoisted, as the winning country, standing tall over others. The entire Nation celebrates the victories of these young enthusiastic women who have brought glory to the country, as theirs.
The complainant also includes a minor, yet the police have failed to alert the NCPCR or file an FIR!! The charges are serious and require immediate actions from the police for justice to be delivered. It is not only shocking but shameful too to see the delay and reluctance of the Delhi police to file FIR and the criminal violation of POSH Act by them.
Our Constitution and legal system ensure that even verbal abuse is penalized and justice be delivered to the aggrieved. The primary job of the police is to safeguard the rights of the survivors of sexual harassment and violence. The Delhi police have been repeatedly found guilty of not filing FIRs but harassing the complainants. It is clear patriarchy, money and muzzle power that play a major role in this.
When internationally popular young women wrestlers have to stage day and night dharna for justice, how can the other women of Delhi trust and expect justice from the police.
Therefore, NFIW demands
 Immediate filing of FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh based on the complaints given by the sportspersons. These are cases of sexual harassment at workplace and POCSO.
 Ensure time bound legal process to ensure justice to the complainant as early as possible.
 Action against all those police personnel who failed to file FIR, timely, on the complaint.
 Immediate steps for Gender sensitization and awareness programme for Delhi Police on woman and child centric Laws. It is critical for safeguarding the dignity, safety and security of women in Delhi.

Comments

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Structural retrogression? Steady rise in share of self-employment in agriculture 2017-18 to 2023-24

By Ishwar Awasthi, Puneet Kumar Shrivastav* The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) launched the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017 to provide timely labour force data. The 2023-24 edition, released on 23rd September 2024, is the 7th round of the series and the fastest survey conducted, with data collected between July 2023 and June 2024. Key labour market indicators analysed include the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR), which highlight trends crucial to understanding labour market sustainability and economic growth.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Venugopal's book 'explores' genesis, evolution of Andhra Naxalism

By Harsh Thakor* N. Venugopal has been one of the most vocal critics of the neo-fascist forces of Hindutva and Brahmanism, as well as the encroachment of globalization and liberalization over the last few decades. With sharp insight, Venugopal has produced comprehensive writings on social movements, drawing from his experience as a participant in student, literary, and broader social movements.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

End India's arms trade with Israel as part of comprehensive sanctions on Israel, demands NAPM

Counterview Desk Civil rights network National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) has said that Israel’s horrendous year-long genocidal war on Palestine and its continued attacks on Lebanon calls for global action.

Authorities' shrewd caveat? NREGA payment 'subject to funds availability': Barmer women protest

By Bharat Dogra* India is among very few developing countries to have a rural employment guarantee scheme. Apart from providing employment during the lean farm work season, this scheme can make a big contribution to important needs like water and soil conservation. Workers can get employment within or very near to their village on the kind of work which improves the sustainable development prospects of their village.

A significant event that has revitalized fundamental right of freedom of expression for journalists

By Vikas Meshram* The recent remark made by the Supreme Court -- that cases can’t be lodged against journalists for criticising Government -- is a significant event that has revitalized the fundamental rights of freedom of expression for journalists. The core of journalism in a democracy is to examine the policies, plans, and governance of the government and present the truth to the public. For this purpose, it is necessary for journalists to have the right to criticize fearlessly.

Search This Blog