Last Update: May 11, 2023, 20:18 IST
National Human Rights Commission (IANS)
The NHRC India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that there is no Internal Complaints Committee in the Wrestling Federation of India as mandated by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, stating that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and four other bodies do not have an internal complaints committee to deal with allegations of sexual harassment. Is. the senior official said.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also sent notices to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), WFI and several other national sports federations over reports that they are not following a statement issued by the rights panel. Accordingly, there is an ICC or a properly functional ICC as required by law.
The notices come at a time when several wrestlers are protesting at Jantar Mantar here demanding the sacking and arrest of WFI president and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Are.
The NHRC “has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that there is no Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), as mandated by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013”.
Accordingly, it has issued notice to (i) Secretary, Department of Sports, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, (ii) Sports Authority of India, SAI (iii) Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI (). iv) Wrestling Federation of India, and all 15 other National Sports Federations of Handball, Volleyball, Basketball, Weightlifting, Rowing, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Billiards and Snooker, Kayaking and Canoeing, Judo, Squash, Triathlon, Kabaddi, Badminton, Archery, Mention has been made in the news report, which either do not even have an ICC or have properly functional ICCs as required in law.
“They have been asked to submit a detailed report within 4 weeks including the current status of the ICC in their organization as well as the steps taken or to be taken to resolve the issue,” the statement said.
According to reports, five federations including the Wrestling Federation do not even have the ICC.
Four federations do not have the prescribed number of members and another six federations lack the mandatory external members. It has also been said that a consortium had two panels but no independent member.
(with inputs from agencies)
