Gujrat varsity faces the music over harassment

LAHORE:

Punjab Ombudsperson Nabila Hakim Khan has issued a fine notification of Rs100,000 to the University of Gujrat on Friday.

The fine was imposed under the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace and the Punjab Enforcement of Women's Property Rights Act 2021, due to the university's failure to form a harassment committee and display the harassment code of conduct.

The Ombudsperson emphasised that all public, semi-government, and private institutions are required to have a harassment inquiry committee. As per the law, institutions are bound to display the legal draft of harassment code of conduct in Urdu, English, or any other language understood by the people there, at a suitable place, so that everyone in the institution can easily read it.

She stated that if both provisions of the law are not implemented, the Punjab Ombudsperson has the authority to impose a fine ranging from fifty thousand to one lakh rupees.

The notification directed the University of Gujrat to pay the fine within seven days. If the fine is not paid within the specified time, contempt of court proceedings will be initiated against the University of Gujrat.