The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed all educational institutions to adopt a clear anti-harassment policy and ensure a safe workplace for teachers and staff.
In a 12-page judgment, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar restored the punishment of a male teacher who was found guilty of harassing a female colleague. The court also set aside the Punjab Service Tribunal’s decision, which had earlier reduced the punishment.
The Supreme Court said schools, colleges, and universities should not wait for decisions from the Federal or Provincial Ombudsperson before taking action. If a complaint is proved after a fair inquiry, the institution can take disciplinary action at its own level.
The court also said that the head of every educational institution is responsible for ensuring that harassment is not tolerated and that professionalism is maintained at the workplace.
The judgment directed authorities to ensure that every government and private educational institution displays the harassment code of conduct in visible places and forms an internal Inquiry Committee to handle complaints under the law.
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