New Delhi:
In the wake of sexual assault allegations against its editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal, Tehelka today constituted a sexual harassment complaints panel, which will be headed by leading women's rights activist Urvashi Butalia.
Following is the statement by Tehelka on the panel:In furtherance to Tehelka's acceptance of Tarun Tejpal's recusal from editorship of Tehelka on November 20th, which followed the official unconditional apology he had mailed to the journalist concerned on November 19th, Tehelka has now constituted a formal complaints committee, in accordance to Vishaka guidelines, to be presided over by Urvashi Butalia, eminent feminist and publisher, to investigate the matter. The other members of the committee will be announced shortly.
In addition to this, Tehelka will ensure setting up a formal complaints committee, according to section 4 of the Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013), an institutional mechanism that was sorely missing in Tehelka.
Shoma Chaudhury, managing editor, Tehelka