The English and Foreign Languages has introduced and brought into force Sensitisation, Prevention and Redressal of Sexual Harassment (SPARSH) through Ordinance 30. The Ordinance is based on the Government of India’s policy against Sexual Harassment. It seeks to maintain and create an academic and work environment free of sexual harassment of women associated with the EFL U as students, teaching and non-teaching staff members.

Sexual harassment includes:

• • Unwanted physical contact and advances
• • Demand or request for sexual favours
• • Sexually-coloured remarks
• • Display of pornography
• • Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature

SPARSH operates through an Apex body (ABS) and a University Complaints Committee (UCC). The ABS aims to sensitise and work to prevent sexual harassment in the University. The UCC will receive complaints regarding sexual harassment, conduct enquiries and recommend suitable action.

Complaints:

Any student, resident, faculty member or non-teaching staff may lodge a complaint against any student, faculty, non-teaching staff member, resident or outsider either to a UCC member or directly to the Vice Chancellor.

Complaints will be treated as strictly confidential.

Prof. Roopa Suzana is the Chairperson of the Apex body of Sensitisation, Prevention and redressal of Sexual Harassment (AB-SPARSH).

Penalties:

For Students

• • Warning
• • Debarring access to campus/hostel
• • Debarring from exams
• • Withholding of results
• • Expulsion from the University
• • Denial of readmission
• • Written apology
• • Bond of good behaviour.

For University Employees

• • Warning
• • Written apology
• • Bond of good behaviour
• • Adverse remarks in the confidential report
• • Debarring from supervisory duties
• • Denial of membership of statutory bodies
• • Denial of reemployment
• • Stopping of increments/promotion
• • Reverting, demotion
• • Suspension
• • Dismissal
• • Any other relevant measure

For Others including Retired Employees of the University

• • Denial of access to the campus
• • Denial of any dealing with the University
• • Any other relevant measure

Any information about sexual harassment of any woman student, faculty member, non-teaching staff, contractual employee of the University within or outside the campus should be immediately brought to the notice of the members of the UCC or any other administrative authority of the University either verbally or in writing so that appropriate action may be taken without delay.