LHC seeks Punjab govt reply on delay in women ombudsperson's appointment

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to submit a reply regarding the prolonged delay in appointing a provincial women ombudsperson under the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.

Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal heard a petition filed by Sumaira Nasarullah, a senior clerk serving in the office of the advocate general of Punjab. The petitioner claimed that she had faced harassment at her workplace and sought redress under the relevant law. However, she argued that the continued vacancy in the office of the ombudsperson had denied her access to the specialised forum established by statute for the prompt resolution of such complaints.

Petitioner's counsel highlights fundamental rights violation

Advocate Azhar Siddique, representing the petitioner, contended that the petition pertained to the enforcement of fundamental rights of working women across the province and called for the immediate appointment of the women ombudsperson. He highlighted that the statutory position of the ombudsperson had remained vacant for over a year, effectively rendering the legal protections available to women under the 2010 Act inoperative.

The counsel argued that the absence of a functioning ombudsperson's office meant that women facing workplace harassment in Punjab were left without the dedicated institutional mechanism that the law had specifically created for their protection. This prolonged vacancy, according to the petitioner's lawyer, amounted to a failure on the part of the provincial government to uphold the rights guaranteed to working women under both the statute and the constitution.

Court issues notice to provincial government

After hearing the arguments, Justice Iqbal took notice of the matter and issued directions to the Punjab government to file its response explaining the reasons behind the delay in filling the position. The court sought the government's reply on why the appointment had not been made despite the office having been vacant for such an extended period.

The Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010, provides for the appointment of an ombudsperson at the provincial level to adjudicate complaints of workplace harassment filed by women. The ombudsperson's office serves as a specialised forum intended to offer swift and effective relief to complainants without requiring them to go through conventional court proceedings.

The case highlights the gap between the legislative framework designed to protect women from workplace harassment and its actual implementation on the ground, with the petitioner's situation illustrating how the vacancy has left affected women without recourse to the designated legal remedy.