Most of the self-financing colleges in the region have formed the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Collegiate Education.
While government and government-aided colleges had formed the ICC, not all self-financing colleges had fulfilled the requirement until two months ago, when the directive was issued.
There has been appreciable response from the self-financing colleges. Almost all these institutions have formed the ICC, Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Shenbagavalli said.
All the colleges that have formed ICC have been sending monthly reports of the meetings, awareness programmes and other activities to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education.
So far, during this academic year, there have been no reports of any sexual harassment in the region, Prof. Shenbagavalli said.
In tune with the UGC (Prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015, the Commissioner’s directive required the higher educational institutions (HEI) to nominate the senior-most woman faculty as the presiding officer.
The Committee also encompasses two other faculty members, two non-teaching employees, three students, and one member from non-government organisations or associations. At least one-half of the total members of the ICC has to be women.
Managements of self-financing colleges acted promptly and formed the ICC, to evade consequences, official sources said.
Non-compliance would entail withdrawal of declaration of fitness to receive grants under 12B of the UGC Act, 1956, removal of the name of the HEI from list maintained by the Commission under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the Act 1956, withholding any grant allocated to the institution, declaring the institution ineligible for consideration for any assistance under any of the special assistance programme of the UGC, and eventual withdrawal of affiliation.
Published – November 11, 2025 07:44 pm IST
