India
CIC remands POSH RTI appeal for fair hearing
The Hindu·
The Central Information Commission remanded an RTI appeal on workplace sexual harassment compliance in public sector banks. Information Commissioner P.R. Ramesh ordered the Women and Child Development Ministry's first appellate authority to hear Chayan Ghosh Chowdhury fairly. He sought SHe-Box data, annual returns, penalties and cases under the 2013 law. The CIC did not rule on adequacy.
Prism
What It Means For You
- The Ministry must rehear the RTI first appeal with both sides present.
- The applicant may file a second appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act if still dissatisfied.
- Bank-level POSH records may still need separate RTIs to individual banks, the Ministry argued.
What's Happening
- Chowdhury sought data on Internal Committees and POSH compliance in public sector banks.
- He said the Ministry reply was incomplete and that he was denied a requested hearing.
- The CIC remanded the appeal and asked the Public Information Officer for a compliance report.
What the Applicant Asked For
- The request cited the Supreme Court decision in Aureliano Fernandes vs State of Goa.
- Details sought included banks on the SHe-Box portal, annual returns, penalties and related cases.
- SHe-Box is the central government's online platform for workplace sexual harassment complaints.
all-news
