New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI), Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and 15 National Sports Federations for reportedly not having Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as per the law to address the complaints of sexual harassment.
Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that there is no ICC in the WFI as mandated by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013, the Rights body has issued notices to the Secretary, Department of Sports, Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; SAI, BCCI, WFI, and 15 other National Sports Federations including Handball, Volleyball, Basketball, Weightlifting, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Billiards and Snooker, Judo, Squash, Triathlon, Kabaddi, Badminton and Archery.
The Commission said that as per the news report, these Sports Federations either do not have even an ICC or properly functional ICCs as required in the law.
The Rights body said it has asked to submit detailed reports within four weeks including the present status of the ICC in their organisation as well as the steps taken or proposed to be taken to address the issue
"The contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of a law, and thus is a matter of concern as it may impact the legal right and dignity of the sports persons," the NHRC said.
According to the media report, carried on May 4, five Federations, including the WFI do not even have an ICC, the statement said.
It may be mentioned that several wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik are protesting at Jantar Mantar here against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh accusing him of sexual harassment. (UNI)