Center Redesigns 'She-Box' to Simplify Reporting Sexual Harassment

Center Redesigns 'She-Box' to Simplify Reporting Sexual Harassment
Government informs Supreme Court; Court emphasizes the importance of access to justice
The Central Ministry of Women and Child Development informed the Supreme Court that as of August 29, 2024, the 'She-Box' has been given a new format to facilitate the reporting of sexual harassment cases. This redesign allows victims to report harassment easily and directly.
The government has launched the 'She-Box' (Sexual Harassment Electronic Box) portal, where women employees can register complaints of sexual harassment at workplaces. The bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice N. Kotis war Singh, along with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and other authorities, discussed handling cases of sexual harassment.
The court emphasized that not only is it essential for victims to access justice, but ensuring justice delivery is equally critical. The Union’s Additional Solicitor General, Aishwarya Bhati, informed the court that this electronic platform is a significant step towards ensuring the safety of women in workplaces. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 3.
Case 1: The complaint stems from incidents at Goa University, where a female student accused a faculty member of sexual harassment. She filed a petition in Bombay High Court to transfer the case, which led to the Supreme Court's involvement.
Case 2: In a separate case, the Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra Home Secretary about providing video conferencing facilities for accused individuals to record their statements in harassment cases.
This redesign is expected to streamline the process of reporting sexual harassment cases, making it easier for women to seek justice.
Central Government Policy for Employees: 'Don’t Use Govt Email IDs for Social Media'
The Indian government has issued a new policy restricting employees from using their official email IDs to register on social media or other websites unless authorized for an official purpose. This policy, notified in the gazette by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is designed to maintain cybersecurity and data integrity.
Key Points of the Policy
•    Email Usage Restriction: Government employees, contractors, and consultants are mandated to use only official NIC-operated emails for public duties. The policy also clarifies email use, specifying that official email IDs should not be used for personal activities like social media.
•    Mandatory NIC Email for Official Work: Core government organizations and government-controlled entities that don’t engage in commercial services must use NIC email services for official communication.
•    Security and Privacy Focus: The updated policy aligns with recent cybersecurity concerns and provides a clearer structure on permissions and privacy, especially considering the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
•    Migrating Email Domains: Departments using @gov.in or @nic.in are required to migrate to a department-specific domain to maintain communication consistency and control over official accounts when employees transfer departments.
•    Server Location Requirements: Organizations with independent servers must ensure these are located within India, and offices with servers outside India must use secure, government-approved alternatives.
The policy is intended to enhance security, prevent misuse, and ensure uniformity across government communication channels.