While serious law-non-bailable offence is the need of the hour, it should also be taken into consideration that law enforcement agencies work efficiently and diligently in that direction. The Act was enacted to ensure a safe working environment for women. It provides for protection to women at their workplace from any form of sexual harassment and for redressal of any complaints they may have launched. Nowadays the sexual harassment at workplace is an unlawful act which has been spreading like a wildfire for quite a while now. The mammoth truth also remains that more than half the women percentage of our country, till date, are not very clear about the legal mechanism against combating sexual harassment at workplace.
People also need to come out with determination against such evils and not be a moot spectator wherein a daughter, or a sister, or a wife, or a mother is crying for alms. The fact that the victims of sexual harassment have a law, which was created with the sole intent to hear them out, made a huge difference and brought a much needed respite for the women in workplaces. There is still no proper mechanism in place to address the complaints of sexual harassment of women lawyers in Bar Associations, lady doctors and nurses in the medical clinics and nursing homes, women architects working in offices of the engineers and architects and so on and so forth. Such a ruling will gladden the hearts of many professional women who have learnt the art of swallowing the nonsense they experience at work that is often dismissed as harmless “teasing”. Yes, “eve-teasing” is sexual harassment.
The problem is not the law. It is those who ignore it; those who break it; and those, including the government, who give it “lip service”, in the words of the Supreme Court. It is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe work space for women. This is not only a legal obligation, but is also required for the growth of the organization. Despite increased public awareness, sexual harassment continues to plague Indian workplaces. We need something else which legislation cannot provide — the mindset to understand the fears, compulsions, and pressures on women victims. The sexual harassment law does not permit settlement on condition of payment of monetary compensation, but does allow settlement involving an adverse entry in the employee’s record book as well as deduction from his dues. We talk about equal treatment to all irrespective of gender but sadly this lesson is just to be read in books and it is a distant image when it could actually turn to be a reality. The need of the hour is to change the social attitude towards women and force a comprehensive change in our outlook and thinking regarding women. We need to focus more on this problem, because a lot of men still don’t take it seriously, it happens, because they don’t know the real definition of sexual harassment.
It refers to much-awaited and welcome environment and user friendly circular dated February 13, 2020 by Supreme Court allowing use of double-sided A-4 size paper for filing purposes. Earlier in January 2020, Supreme Court had directed its registry to sue double-sided A-4 size paper. Decision will not only be environment-friendly, but also user-friendly because mostly printers for domestic use are equipped to handle only A-4 size paper.
It may be recalled that a meeting of Chairpersons of Computer Committees of High Courts chaired by the then Supreme Court Judge Justice Madan B Lokur (Judge in-charge of e-Committee of Supreme Court) on 2-3 August 2014 emphasised that for sake of uniformity, A-4 size paper-sheets should be used in preparing orders, judgements and depositions. But the British legacy of legal-size paper still continues.
Department of Consumer Affairs (Government of India) should now disallow any further production and use of legal-size paper, thus making A-4 size paper to be commonly used paper-sheets. It is also time for slight modification in A-4 size paper from present (29.5 cms x 21 cms) to (30 cms x 20 cms) to be in tune with true metric spirit.
Madhu Agrawal
2Let students enjoy exams
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet to all the candidates appearing for the CBSE Class X and XII exams wishing them all the best and urging the students to appear for the exams in a happy and stress-free manner is timely and the PM’s tweet is apt when he says that exams have to be taken in a happy and stress free manner. What we see today is not only the students tensed up with exam fever but the teachers and the parents too ‘shuddering and shivering ‘ sadly rising the ‘ tension temperature’ of the youngsters who are pressurised in such a way that they see exams as a ruthless opponent waiting to devour the students!. What the students forget is that it is just an assessment to analyse what they have imbibed and understood in the subjects. Exams are just a system to test their knowledge and not an ordeal to dissect their intelligence. Parents and teachers have an important role in creating a tension free atmosphere for the students to take on the examination. Rather than creating pressure and panic parents and teachers will have to create an ambience of peace, calmness and perseverance.
Creating horrific hallucinations about exams results in excessive anxiety which leads to unwanted fear, insecurity, apprehension and mental tension. Exams are not the beginning and end of life. When an environment of high competition is created it creates a scary image to the candidates. The students misunderstand that exams are meant only for getting grades and it is the only way that shape and mould their future career path, self-worth and identity. This leads to more anxiety and is one of the causes of students indulging in malpractices.
So it is important as the PM said for the teachers and the parents to encourage the children to show them the ways to deal with the exams in a de-stressed and anxiety free manner. Let us encourage, support and help them to enjoy examinations.
M Pradyu
3Union Government should study utility of cow-urine for medicinal use
It refers to videos viral on social media wherein it has been claimed that extracts of cow-urine can be successful medicine to meet big challenge to corona-virus. Also our ancient Sanskrit-literature is full of Ayurvedic medical literature.
Union government should immediately set up expert-group from concerned ministries to study utility of cow-urine for medicinal values. Also ancient Sanskrit-literature should be analysed for advanced study in field of Ayurveda.
In case India becomes successful in finding medicine for corona-virus, then India can once again lead global world in providing a treatment to till now fast-spreading fatal corona-virus.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Irrespective of the years served in the Indian army, women officers have now been granted Permanent Commission (PC). In a landmark judgment on Monday, the Supreme Court (SC) criticised the central government for not following the Delhi High Court’s 2010 order granting Permanent Commission to women officers in the Indian Army. Supporting the Delhi High Court’s order, the Supreme Court said that the Permanent Commission will apply to all women officers in the Army in service.
Commander, GG Salokhe said, “It’s a very good decision by the Supreme Court because the mindset of the society has change. This move will prove that women are not weaker sex and they should be treated on par with men officers in the Army.”
The Supreme Court feels that veering off granting command posting to women officers in Army is irrational and against equality. It is vulnerable to deny women command posting and a blanket ban on command posting for them cannot be sustained in law.
Major BJ Thapa said, “I endorse and fully support the Supreme Court judgment that women should be given equal opportunities in defence forces. Women officers are very energetic, hardworking, dedicated and they understand their job.”
This decision of the Supreme Court has opened the doors for women to command military units, such as logistics, signals or engineer regiments, thus placing them in the position of leading bodies of 500-600 men in combat support duties.
Lt Col, SD Naik said, “The decision of the Supreme Court for Permanent Commission of women officers in Army is a landmark and welcome. And I guess this will prove to be very good for the Indian Army. Initially, it was Short Service Commission for women and now they have been given permanent commission. This will bring more stability in their personal lives and in the life of the regiment they are in.”
Apart from this, the apex court said that women officers in the Indian Army will be on par with their male counterparts and will be allowed the “command and criteria appointments.” The Supreme Court also directed the Centre to grant Permanent Commission to all women officers in the Army within three months who opt for it. Appointments of women officers shall be the same as their male counterparts.
The “physiological features” do not define their rights. Women will have the career opportunities and prospects than that of male officers. This mentality of the people has to be changed, the apex court maintained.
According to Mr. Ajay Rastogi and Justice DY Chandrachud, women work equally like men and the submission made by the Centre is based on gender discrimination as well as stereotypical. The SC noted, “Centre, by not giving Permanent Commission to women officers had prejudiced the case.”
Earlier, the Centre in an affidavit had said that women who had completed 14 years of Short Service Commission (SSC) will be allowed to remain in service till they completed 20 years of service. And after that, only they will become eligible for pensionary benefits thus implying that they will not be granted Permanent Commission.
However, opposing the Centre’s plea, the Supreme Court said that the Permanent Commission is not only limited to those who have served 14 years in the SSC, but others should also be granted permanent commission.
It’s been reported that, last year ten branches of the Indian Army had granted Permanent Commission to women officers. The branches in which the Centre inducted the Permanent Commission for women were such as signals, engineers, army aviation, army air defence, electronics and mechanical engineers, army service corps, army ordinance corps and intelligence.
The Supreme Court simply described that a woman can rise to the rank of Colonel and above based on their merit like their male counterparts. In the rank of a Colonel, an officer picks up a substantive command and would be delegated to carry out independent tasks. A Colonel commands a battalion which typically consists of 850 men. A woman officer who is successful in this position could technically rise to the highest ranks of the Army, though at the moment, women officers will not be inducted into the combat arms such as the infantry, artillery or armoured corps. The SC further said that women officers in the Army can get command positions on par with male officers, asserting that the government’s arguments against it were “discriminatory”, “disturbing,” and based on stereotype.
The Court also said that Permanent Commission would be available to all women, regardless of their years of service. The judgement has to be implemented within three months. The Supreme Court said that even women who have served more than 14 years in the Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Army can have the option of Permanent Commission. The Court commented that there was a “fundamental fallacy” in the Centre’s policy of considering only women with less than 14 years for Permanent Commission. The Court said that the army could not discriminate between men and women striking down a blatant gender bias propagated for years. To cast aspersions on gender is an affront to their dignity and to the country.
“Time has come that women officers are not adjunct to their male counterparts,” said the Court. It also rejected the Centre’s arguments of physiological limitations and “social norms” for denying permanent commission to women officers calling it disturbing. Women work shoulder-to-shoulder with men. The Centre’s submission is based on gender discrimination and stereotype. “Women Army officers brought laurels to the country,” the Supreme Court said referring to women officers who it said had done the country proud. The Court noted that the petitioners had countered the government by arguing on the physical capabilities of women, the composition of the rank and file and psychological realities. At present, woman officers can serve for 10-14 years in the Short Service Commission(SSC). Women officers are allowed entry into Army Service Corps, Ordnance, Education Corps, Judge Advocate General, Engineers, Signals, Intelligence and Electrical and Mechanical Engineering branches. There is no option but to allow women in combat roles like infantry, armoured, mechanised infantry, aviation and artillery. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy also grant permanent commission to women officers even as both have opened up some combat roles for women. The air force allows women as officers in flying and ground duties. Women IAF Short Service Commission (SSC) officers fly helicopter, transport aircraft and now even fighter jets.
In the Navy, women officers inducted through SSC are allowed in logistics, law, observers, air traffic control, maritime reconnaissance pilots and Naval Armament Inspectorate Cadre. This, according to military historian Srinath Raghavan is an “extraordinary and regressive” claim, reminiscent of the claims of colonial rulers that Indian soldiers would never accept Indian commanders.
India’s armed forces began inducting women officers in 1992. Over the decades, they have been given combat roles in the Air Force. Women have been inducted as fighter pilots and have flown sorties into combat zones; they will be inducted as sailors as soon as ships that can accommodate them are ready. Last year, a 24-year-old became the navy’s first woman maritime reconnaissance pilot. The army is a striking exception. Women have worked here as doctors, nurses, engineers, signallers, administrators and lawyers. They have treated soldiers on battlefields, handled explosives, detected and removed mines and laid communication lines. Women officers have also been given permanent commission – a 20-year service, depending on eligibility and rank. Last year, women were cleared to join the military police. So they have ended up doing almost everything except combat roles: women are still not allowed to serve in infantry and the armoured corps. According to 2019 figures, women comprise only 3.8 per cent of the world’s second-largest army – compared to 13 per cent of the air force and 6 per cent of the Navy. There are some 1,500 female officers compared to more than 40,000 male officers.
The Indian Military Nursing Service was formed in 1888 and nurses fought in World War I and II where 350 Indian Army nurses either died or were taken prisoner of war or declared missing in action, this includes nurses who died when SS Kuala was sunk by Japanese bombers in 1942. In 1992, the Indian Army began inducting women officers in non-medical roles. On 19 January 2007, the United Nations first all-female peacekeeping force made up of 105 Indian policewomen was deployed to Liberia. In 2014, India’s army had 3 per cent women, the Navy 2.8 per cent and the Air Force performed best with 8.5 per cent women. In 2015 India opened new combat air force roles for women as fighter pilots, adding to their role as helicopter pilots in the Indian Air Force. All wings of the Indian Armed Forces allow women in combat roles (junior ranks) and combat supervisory roles (officers), except Indian Army (support roles only) and Special Forces of India (trainer role only). Indian Air Force had 13.09 per cent and 8.5 per cent, Indian Navy 6 per cent and 2.8 per cent women and Indian Army 3.80 per cent and 3 per cent in December 2018 and December 2014 respectively. Females are not allowed to serve in combat units like the Infantry, the Armoured corps and Mechanised infantry. In 1992, the Indian Army began inducting women officers in non-medical roles. On 19 January 2007, the United Nations first all-female peacekeeping force made up of 105 Indian policewomen was deployed to Liberia.
The first batch of 100 women soldiers in the Army is likely to be commissioned by March 2021. The commissioning will take place after the first batch completes its training which will commence in December this year. The women soldiers will be commissioned into the Corps of Military Police of the Indian Army. The training period of 61 weeks is similar to that of male soldiers. Batches comprising similar number of soldiers will be trained and commissioned every year. Cadre of women soldiers in the Corps of Military Police will be maintained at a fixed number of 1,700 corps. This number will be achieved by filling in the corps in batches. In the Corps of Military Police, women soldiers will take up duties of policing cantonments and other Army establishments. They will also work in co-operation with civil police of various state governments as well as the Centre besides handling prisoners of war and maintenance of rules. They will also investigate cases of crime. At present, women in the Army work only in engineering, medical, legal, signals and educational wings.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
The female swamp deer of the duo that were housed at the Veermata Jijabai Udyan has died of cardiac arrest. Now, zoo officials are trying to bring in more swamp deer and a mate for the male deer.
“Animals like deer feel safer in herds. So, we are trying to bring in three to four pairs of swamp deer. The issue is other zoos also need animals in exchange and we don’t have many at the zoo,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the zoo.
According to an officer at the zoo, the deer was in good health and its activities were normal. But, on Friday morning, it was found unconscious. There was a big mark on its chest. The post mortem report mentioned that the death was due to cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. It is estimated that while mating, the male deer may have hit her, which resulted in the fatal injury,” added the officer.
The Byculla zoo had got the pair of swamp deer from Kanpur in exchange for a pair of military macaws and three pairs of night herons. The pair arrived in April 2019 and were on display in the newly constructed cage from May 3. Byculla zoo was the first in Maharashtra to display swamp deer. The deer is found in the north and south of the country.
In its zest to reconstruct the Himalaya foot-over-bridge, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has submitted a report to the Heritage Committee Conservation Committee. The civic body has already prepared a reconstruction plan to this effect
The Corporators in the standing committee had claimed that despite the passage of a year’s time, the BMC had not taken any steps to rebuild the bridge. They had also complained about the lack of space for daily commuters to cross the busy DN Road to access the north end of CSMT.
The civic administration in a written reply to the Corporators mentioned that soon after the mishap, a zebra crossing was made for citizens.
Further, the civic officials of the Bridges Department mentioned that the reconstruction of the bridge would take place soon as they have appointed a consultant in September last year who has helped the civic body design the bridge. According to sources, the bridge will have escalators and the BMC will also try to keep the look of the bridge in accordance with the heritage precinct.
A civic official speaking on the matter said, “A report has been submitted to the heritage committee a few days ago. In the report, we have mentioned three different designs for the bridge keeping the heritage precinct in mind. The matter will soon be taken up for discussion.
Recently Delhi Police has arrested 10 people, including six students of Delhi University, for allegedly barging into the premises of Gargi College during a cultural festival. It is surprising that after a massive protest led by students, the college reported the incident and an FIR was registered against unknown persons for “trespassing, assault of women and outraging their modesty”.
It is very bad that such things allegedly happen in high-profile places. Despite the prevalence of sexual harassment, very few persons who experienced this were able to report and therefore get a remedy. The media coverage of sexual harassment in the workplace has resonated in the minds and conversations of women throughout this county. Swami Vivekananda said “There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing.” We are living in a country which is witness to innumerable incidents of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a serious issue that has long been ignored and treated with complacency. These cases usually have a marked power imbalance between the victim and the accused. Unfortunately, sexual harassment in the workplace is very real, and it happens every day. Sexual Harassment at workplace”, is a widespread issue and an unwanted social atrocity being committed against a woman.
There are numerous women who have faced sexual harassment at some point of time. It might have been at her office, on her way to work or during an official trip. Sexual harassment is that illness which has its effect on every corner of the world. Supreme Court’s historic 1997 judgement and the 2013 law against sexual harassment at the work place haven’t done enough to address deeper systemic problems. The Supreme Court of India in 1997 passed the landmark Vishaka judgement, which clearly defined the ambit of sexual harassment in the workplace. It includes that the acts like Physical contact and advances; a demand or request for sexual favours; sexually coloured remarks; showing pornography; and any other unwelcome physical verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
Although it is heartening to see women making stupendous progress in almost every sphere of activity, one cannot be oblivious to the fact that they continue to be victims of violence of different hues. Every human being has the right to live with dignity and respect. It is noticed that the prevalence of crimes against women in a certain place depends on a large extent to the social ambience of that place. Efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women should have high priority by way of implementing various measures. The punishment for battering, molestation, sexual molestation and unlawful threat must be increased. Projects must be launched for a better cooperation between the police, the social services and other relevant parties. Government should come out with much more essence and urgency to check the indecent behaviour against women folks, and the need to chart out stern measures on the part of administrative authorities for curbing down such events.
(The latter part of the article will continue tomorrow)
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
A major fire broke out at the GST Bhavan at Maharana Pratap Chowk in Mumbai’s Mazgaon area on Monday afternoon. According to a report, the fire took place on the 8th floor of the GST Bhavan and gutted the 9th floor as well. The Mumbai fire brigade declared level 3 fire around 12:35 pm initially. However at 1:16 pm, the officials declared fire as level 4.
Mumbai: A level III fire has broken out in GST Bhavan, in Mazgaon area. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/92fqpMF3tt
Reportedly, 16 fire engines and four Ambulance were put into service. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar reached the spot immediately. No causality was reported. The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.
The Maharashtra government has announced a five day work for its officials and employees starting from February 29 and it is a welcome news as there will be number of long week-ends. The decision would bring cheer to employees, as they stand to get nine long weekends this year and by applying just a day’s leave, they get four days long week end. Currently the state government employees get the second and fourth Saturday’s leave. A look at the holidays in 2020 shows that because of the new decision, state government employees can enjoy nine long weekends in the next 10 months. The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and there 20 lakh officials and employees in government, semi-government and local bodies in the state likely to get the benefit. The slight increase in working hours may not help in clearing the backlog work and may lead to increase in pending work in government offices.
Calicut Krish Ramani
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
BJP has closed its account in Delhi by garnering only 8 seats.This figure when compared to what Amit Shah had said that the party would clock 45 seats. Had BJP won even 25 seats, Shah would have been congratulated non-stop by all his ‘admirers’. But, having bagged votes in a single digit, would his ‘admirers’ make him understand that his strategy of deploying 200 MPs, a host of union ministers and a few CMS of BJP-ruled states failed miserably? Where is the accountability in BJP?
It is a rejection of Modi as well by the Delhi voters. He addressed 2 rallies. Amit Shah held 47 election meetings that included 35 rallies and 9 road shows. Besides, JP Nadda took part in around 40 meetings and road shows. All these massive campaigning efforts were unleashed to demolish the political stakes of one single person- Arvind Kejriwal. Those who jumped into BJP activism, courtesy their attraction towards Modi, are mostly the ones today to denigrate Kejriwal’s immaculate accomplishment that shines big and colourful today.
It is not just the defeat of Delhi alone that should worry the BJP today. The defeat in Delhi is only part of the continuing loosening of the hold of BJP in the states of the country. The Modi-Shah combine worked wonders till recently. It worked well in the National elections 2019 also. In 2014, Modi became the single tallest leader in the entire Indian political landscape. People were disgusted with the Congress, and came Modi to push the Congress out and take its place. People eagerly welcomed it.
In the 2019 national elections, there was no clear alternative to Modi in any of the opposition parties. So, Modi came back again buoyed by the There is No Alternative (TINA) factor. But people clearly knew that Modi won’t run the state governments and it would be better to settle down with a regional party. This trend made the BJP either lose elections in quite a few states or pass the muster with a thin margin of seats. OK, it is almost done and dusted. AAP is going to rule Delhi again and BJP has lost one more election, and that too Delhi, which is prestigious on many counts.
All those accusations of Arvind Kejriwal having bribed the voters with freebies are nonsense. It is only the tax collected that are spent on freebies. The accusers are selective in their criticism going by the fact that the big money allocation made and spent on the Education sector by the AAP Govt is not even looked at positively. Time it is, the BJP went in for a makeover before it becomes stale and the top leaders start losing respect among the activists and eager supporters. The Modi-Shah combine is cracking. Reasons can be many.
Foremost is the job of bringing in some big person as the party president someone, who can command respect by his or her own stature and not another Modi-tagged one. The party and the govt. should have a line of control between each other. Today, the govt. is the party and the party is the govt. This has resulted in serious myopia. BJP needs to be saved from further disaster.
Rampant infighting and bad selection of candidates cost the BJP dear. For example, Kapil Mishra’s area of influence is Karawal Nagar but he was fielded from Model Town. Tajinder Bagga was fielded from Hari Nagar instead of Tilak Nagar. Both lost. Also, known faces of the BJP such as Vijay Goel, Parvesh Verma and Manoj Tiwari appear to be fighting for one upmanship within the organisation. On the contrary, the AAP put up a united fight.
Delhi voted for the BJP in all three municipal corporations in 2017. Three years later, they have hardly anything to show for themselves. Non-payment of salaries, illegal constructions, garbage and sewer blocks dented the image of BJP-run municipalities. Allegations of corruption and non-accessibility against councillors and officials didn’t do any good either. Overall, there was disenchantment against the MCDs to which the AAP cashed in. Kejriwal & company warned voters that Delhi will face the same fate if the BJP comes to power.
Further, the BJP relied heavily on national leaders to drive home its campaign. At a time when Arvind Kejriwal has firmly etched himself as the vikas purush of Delhi, the BJP was unable to find a worthy challenger. The saffron party could neither project a CM face, nor dent Kejriwal’s clean image. The BJP roped in Union ministers and political heavyweights which sent a wrong message to voters who perceived it as “imported leadership”. Kejriwal stood strong as the undisputed ‘badshah’ of Delhi.
The BJP focused more on Ram Mandir, Article 370, triple talaq, etc. which failed to resonate with voters electing leaders on local issues such as health, education, housing and roads, to name a few. The BJP hardly campaigned on what it intends to provide for residents of Delhi if elected to power. On the other hand, the AAP sought votes on the basis of development and the work it did in the sec tors of health and education, which was there for people to see.
Shaheen Bagh dominated the BJP’s campaign. With provocative slogans ringing out from BJP’s meetings and rallies, its campaign was mostly perceived to be based on communal polarisation. From “goli maaro…” to biryani jibes at Shaheen Bagh protesters and opposition leaders and calling Kejriwal a terrorist, the BJP’s campaign had very little to offer on the development front. On the contrary, AAP focused on local issues and local connect and refrained from using foul language. And there lies the real success.