The appellant is looking for information and record from the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment vis-a-vis to the measures taken to ensure the formation of the anti-harassment committees in the public bodies, universities etc., the action taken against the public bodies who have failed to notify anti-harassment committees, total number of complaints received from Jan 2021 to date, on how many complaints issued final judgments and finally implemented, the action taken against the public bodies which are reluctant to implement and the list of the top fifteen public bodies against which the highest number of complaints are registered / received.
The reply submitted reflects the non-serious attitude of the respondent public body towards the implementation of the Act. Instead acknowledging and providing the requisite information and record as mandated under section 13 of the Act, the appellant is being called to visit the office and contact the concerned person to collect the desired information. Reading of the Act transpires that it is appellant’s choice to choose the mode for filing the request and receiving the information whether through post, email, fax, by hand or any other mode the facility of which is available in the office. She cannot be compelled to visit the office for the collection of information without her consent. It would be otherwise not practical, if a precedent is set down, for the citizens of the other provinces or living at a distant place.
The Assistant Registrar, Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for the protection against harassment is directed to furnish the appellant all the requested information and record, forthwith, but in any case not later than seven days of the receipt of this order.