Withheld Wages for Staff at Cuttack Colleges in Odisha Due to Neglect of ICC Reports
The Cuttack District Administration in Odisha has taken a significant step towards strengthening women's safety and grievance redressal mechanisms in educational institutions. In a bold move, the administration has ordered the withholding of salaries for staff at over 100 government and aided colleges that have failed to submit mandatory reports related to their Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) [1][2][3].
This administrative action was prompted by widespread non-compliance. As of July 23, 2025, only one college, Mahanga Women’s College, had submitted a complete report [1][2]. The district collector, Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy on delays, highlighting the importance of safeguarding women’s dignity and grievance redressal mechanisms [1][2].
The crackdown is part of a broader Odisha state effort to standardize grievance redressal mechanisms across educational institutions, especially in response to recent complaints of sexual misconduct and administrative neglect in various districts [2]. The Odisha government has also issued directives to higher educational institutions to ensure proper constitution of Internal Committees with adequate representation, compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013), and UGC regulations (2015). Institutions must publicize ICC member details and submit geo-tagged proofs of information display [5].
Additional measures include activation of women’s grievance cells, mandatory sensitization programs, and proposals for state-wide helplines or task forces to address harassment complaints more effectively [5].
The situation was described as "most urgent" in a letter from the Collector's office. The heads of these institutions now face possible suspension if they do not comply within 24 hours. Appropriate action may be taken against the heads of defaulting institutions by withholding the salary of the entire establishment. Failure to submit the ICC reports within 24 hours would result in the suspension of the college heads concerned [1][2][3].
However, many other colleges are yet to respond. If the non-responding colleges do not act within the next 48 hours, they may also face suspension. The directive comes after repeated reminders were ignored by a majority of the 210 degree and higher secondary colleges under Cuttack District Administration's jurisdiction [1][2][3].
While the specific salary-withholding enforcement action in Cuttack appears unprecedented as of July 2025 and is receiving media attention for its strictness [1][2][3], Odisha’s broader approach includes both compliance monitoring and capacity building measures for ICCs as part of women's safety enhancement in education sectors. The direct impact of salary withholding as a punitive step is intended to enforce timely compliance more stringently than usual administrative follow-ups. The threat of suspension is also a tool to hold institutional heads accountable [5].
Odisha’s multi-pronged approach, combining punitive and supportive mechanisms, may serve as a model for other states aiming to strengthen implementation of sexual harassment redressal policies in educational institutions [5]. The move to withhold salaries will remain in effect until full compliance is ensured, underscoring accountability by threatening suspension of principals and withholding collective salaries, ensuring institutional compliance with the law, and promoting a safer campus environment. The long-term impact is awaited but is viewed as an important step toward rigorous enforcement of women’s protection statutes in educational settings [1][2][5].
References: [1] https://www.odishatv.in/odisha-news/cuttack-colleges-salary-withheld-over-non-compliance-of-icc-reports-489343 [2] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2025/jul/23/cuttack-colleges-salary-withheld-over-non-compliance-of-icc-reports-2437469.html [3] https://www.thenewindianexpress.com/nation/2025/jul/24/cuttack-colleges-salary-withheld-for-non-compliance-of-icc-reports-2437514.html [5] https://www.odishatv.in/odisha-news/cuttack-colleges-salary-withheld-over-non-compliance-of-icc-reports-489343#:~:text=The%20Cuttack%20District%20Administration%20in%20Odisha%20has%20recently%20implemented%20a%20strong%20administrative%20action%20by%20withholding%20salaries%20of%20staff%20in%20government%20and%20aided%20colleges%20that%20fail%20to%20submit%20reports%20of%20their%20Internal%20Complaints%20Committees%20%28ICCs%29%2C%20which%20are%20mandated%20under%20the%20Prevention%20of%20Sexual%20Harassment%20Act%20to%20address%20complaints%20related%20to%20sexual%20harassment%20and%20women's%20dignity.&text=The%20action%20was%20prompted%20by,the%20district%20collector%20emphasized%20a%20zero-tolerance%20policy%20on%20delays%2C%20highlighting%20the%20importance%20of%20safeguarding%20women's%20dignity%20and%20grievance%20redressal%20mechanisms.
- The strict administrative action taken by the Cuttack District Administration in Odisha, which includes withholding salaries of staff at over 100 government and aided colleges, is not just limited to the education-and-self-development sector, but also serves as a political statement highlighting the importance of addressing sexual harassment and ensuring women's safety in general-news contexts.
- In response to the Odisha government's directive, higher educational institutions are mandated not only to ensure proper constitution of Internal Committees with adequate representation and compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013), but also to publicize ICC member details and submit geo-tagged proofs of information display, potentially impacting political decisions made in the domain of education-and-self-development.
