The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed all public and private educational institutions to adopt comprehensive anti-harassment policies and ensure safe working environments for teachers and staff.
The directive came in a 12-page judgment authored by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, who restored the punishment of a male teacher found guilty of harassing a female colleague. The court also overturned a decision by the Punjab Service Tribunal that had reduced the disciplinary penalty.
The Supreme Court ruled that schools, colleges, and universities should not wait for decisions from the Federal or Provincial Ombudsperson before taking action against harassment complaints.
According to the judgment, educational institutions have the authority to initiate disciplinary proceedings if allegations are proven through a fair and transparent internal inquiry conducted in accordance with the law.
The court further held that the head of every educational institution is responsible for maintaining a harassment-free workplace and ensuring professionalism among employees.
In addition, the Supreme Court directed all government and private educational institutions to prominently display the Code of Conduct against Harassment on their premises and establish internal Inquiry Committees to investigate complaints under the relevant legal framework.
The ruling reinforces the responsibility of educational institutions to take timely action against workplace harassment and strengthen mechanisms for protecting employees.
