New Delhi: Sexual harassment grievances cell for women in colleges is something that is heard of, but very little attention has been paid to provide a platform for the male students to speak of their ordeals on the same lines.

However, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified new regulations which enable male students to file cases of sexual harassment, a move touted to be first of its kind in India.

As per the UGC (Prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations notified in May 2016, sexual harassment is gender-neutral; male students are vulnerable to many forms of sexual harassment like their women and transgender counterparts.

It is said that the UGC regulation stresses on the need for the institutions to act decisively against gender-based violence.

As per the UGC provision, victim’s friends, colleagues, relatives, co-students, or psychologists can file a complaint on his/her behalf if he/she is not able to do due to “physical or mental incapacity or death”.

However, a complaint will have to be lodged within three months of the offence.

If any university or college fails to follow the UGC regulations, it would have to face action, including fund cuts.

Also, the regulations underline that an internal complaints committee, set up by a university, shall complete its probe within 90 days and the authorities will have to take action within 30 days.