Cuttack, Jul 23: In a significant administrative move, the salaries of employees from more than half of the colleges in Cuttack district have been withheld due to failure to submit mandatory Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) reports.

The district administration has taken this step to enforce compliance with guidelines aimed at addressing workplace harassment and ensuring institutional accountability.

Out of the 210 colleges in the district, a majority have failed to respond to repeated requests for ICC reports. These reports are crucial for documenting complaints related to sexual harassment and outlining the actions taken by the institutions. Despite multiple reminders, many college principals have not submitted the required documents, prompting the administration to initiate disciplinary action.

The ICC reports were to include details of complaints received, investigations conducted, and resolutions achieved. Additionally, the reports were to be signed by the head of the institution and include contact information of the complainant, if applicable. The lack of response from several colleges has raised concerns about transparency and adherence to legal mandates.

According to sources, the district administration had issued several circulars requesting the reports, but compliance remained poor. Only a few colleges responded with complete documentation, while others either ignored the directive or submitted incomplete information.

Officials stated that salaries will remain suspended until the ICC reports are submitted. This move is intended to reinforce the seriousness of the issue and ensure that all educational institutions maintain proper grievance redressal mechanisms.

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