This is Set 12 of 40 in the smartvidya question bank on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and Rules, with the latest judgments. Part III: Complaint, conciliation and inquiry. This set covers Malicious complaints, false evidence, safeguards and the factors for compensation.
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Set 12: Sections 14 and 15: False Complaints and Compensation
1. Punishment for a false or malicious complaint and false evidence is provided in
(a) Section 15
(b) Section 14
(c) Section 13
(d) Section 26
Ans. (b) Section 14 — Explanation: Section 14 covers false or malicious complaints and false evidence. [Ref: Section 14]
2. Action may be recommended against a complainant under Section 14 where the Committee concludes that
(a) the allegation was malicious, or she made it knowing it to be false, or produced a forged or misleading document
(b) she sought conciliation
(c) she could not prove her complaint
(d) she withdrew the complaint
Ans. (a) the allegation was malicious, or she made it knowing it to be false, or produced a forged or misleading document — Explanation: Section 14(1) requires malice, knowledge of falsity, or forged or misleading documents. [Ref: Section 14(1)]
3. The first proviso to Section 14(1) says that mere inability to substantiate a complaint or provide adequate proof
(a) need not attract action against the complainant
(b) leads to automatic dismissal
(c) makes the complaint malicious
(d) always attracts action
Ans. (a) need not attract action against the complainant — Explanation: Failure to prove is not the same as a false complaint. [Ref: Section 14(1), first proviso]
4. Malicious intent on the part of the complainant must be
(a) decided by the respondent
(b) established after an inquiry in the prescribed procedure before any action is recommended
(c) decided by the police
(d) presumed when the complaint fails
Ans. (b) established after an inquiry in the prescribed procedure before any action is recommended — Explanation: The second proviso to Section 14(1) requires malicious intent to be established after inquiry. [Ref: Section 14(1), second proviso]
5. Section 14(2) deals with
(a) the employer's failure to constitute a committee
(b) appeals
(c) a witness who gives false evidence or produces forged or misleading documents
(d) publication of identity
Ans. (c) a witness who gives false evidence or produces forged or misleading documents — Explanation: Section 14(2) allows action against a witness giving false evidence. [Ref: Section 14(2)]
6. Action against a person making a false complaint is taken
(a) by a fine of ₹50,000
(b) by imprisonment under Section 14
(c) in accordance with service rules, or in the manner prescribed under Rule 10
(d) by the police only
Ans. (c) in accordance with service rules, or in the manner prescribed under Rule 10 — Explanation: Section 14 refers to service rules or the prescribed manner; Rule 10 refers back to the actions in Rule 9 of the 2013 Rules. [Ref: Section 14; Rule 10]
7. Determination of compensation is dealt with in
(a) Section 13
(b) Section 18
(c) Section 15
(d) Section 14
Ans. (c) Section 15 — Explanation: Section 15 lists the factors for determining compensation. [Ref: Section 15]
8. Which of these is a factor under Section 15 for determining compensation?
(a) The complainant's age
(b) The employer's profits
(c) The number of witnesses
(d) The mental trauma, pain, suffering and emotional distress caused to the aggrieved woman
Ans. (d) The mental trauma, pain, suffering and emotional distress caused to the aggrieved woman — Explanation: Section 15(a) is about mental trauma, pain, suffering and emotional distress. [Ref: Section 15(a)]
9. Loss in career opportunity due to the incident is a factor under
(a) Section 14(2)
(b) Section 15(a)
(c) Section 15(d)
(d) Section 15(b)
Ans. (d) Section 15(b) — Explanation: Section 15(b) covers loss in career opportunity. [Ref: Section 15(b)]
10. Medical expenses incurred for physical or psychiatric treatment are a factor under
(a) Section 15(a)
(b) Section 15(c)
(c) Section 13(2)
(d) Section 15(e)
Ans. (b) Section 15(c) — Explanation: Section 15(c) covers medical expenses. [Ref: Section 15(c)]
11. The income and financial status of the respondent are relevant under
(a) Section 14(1)
(b) Section 15(b)
(c) Section 15(d)
(d) Section 26
Ans. (c) Section 15(d) — Explanation: Section 15(d) considers the respondent's income and financial status. [Ref: Section 15(d)]
12. The feasibility of paying compensation in lump sum or in instalments is a factor under
(a) Section 15(c)
(b) Section 12
(c) Section 15(e)
(d) Section 13(4)
Ans. (c) Section 15(e) — Explanation: Section 15(e) covers lump sum or instalment payment. [Ref: Section 15(e)]
13. The number of factors listed in Section 15 is
(a) four
(b) three
(c) five
(d) six
Ans. (c) five — Explanation: Section 15 lists five factors, clauses a to e. [Ref: Section 15]
14. Compensation under the Act is paid by
(a) the District Officer
(b) the respondent, through deduction from salary or by direction to pay
(c) the employer from its funds
(d) the State Government
Ans. (b) the respondent, through deduction from salary or by direction to pay — Explanation: Section 13(3)(ii) and its provisos make the respondent pay. [Ref: Section 13(3)]
15. A complaint that fails for lack of evidence, with no finding of malice, should lead to
(a) no action against the complainant
(b) dismissal of the complainant
(c) a fine on the complainant
(d) transfer of the complainant as a penalty
Ans. (a) no action against the complainant — Explanation: The first proviso to Section 14(1) protects complainants who are unable to prove their case. [Ref: Section 14(1), first proviso]
16. The safeguard in Section 14 mainly aims to
(a) prevent fear of punishment from discouraging genuine complaints
(b) encourage false complaints
(c) protect the employer from penalties
(d) speed up appeals
Ans. (a) prevent fear of punishment from discouraging genuine complaints — Explanation: Only malicious or knowingly false complaints attract action, not unproved ones. [Ref: Section 14(1), provisos]
17. A witness who produces a forged email before the Committee may face action
(a) no action
(b) only by a civil suit
(c) under Section 26 only
(d) in accordance with service rules or the prescribed manner under Section 14(2)
Ans. (d) in accordance with service rules or the prescribed manner under Section 14(2) — Explanation: Section 14(2) covers witnesses who give false evidence or produce forged or misleading documents. [Ref: Section 14(2)]
18. An appeal lies against a recommendation under Section 14(1) or 14(2) under
(a) Section 26
(b) Section 15
(c) Section 18
(d) Section 17
Ans. (c) Section 18 — Explanation: Section 18 lists recommendations under Section 14 among those that are appealable. [Ref: Section 18(1)]
19. A Committee awards compensation without considering the respondent's ability to pay. This ignores
(a) Section 19
(b) Section 15(d) and 15(e)
(c) Section 9
(d) Section 4
Ans. (b) Section 15(d) and 15(e) — Explanation: The respondent's income, financial status and the feasibility of instalments must be considered. [Ref: Section 15]
20. Compensation for loss of career opportunity applies where, for example,
(a) the woman lost a promotion or had to leave her job because of the harassment
(b) the employer's business suffered
(c) the respondent lost a bonus
(d) a witness took leave
Ans. (a) the woman lost a promotion or had to leave her job because of the harassment — Explanation: Section 15(b) covers loss in career opportunity. [Ref: Section 15(b)]
21. A complaint is withdrawn by the complainant midway. This by itself
(a) makes the respondent eligible for compensation from her
(b) proves malice
(c) leads to automatic punishment
(d) does not prove that the complaint was false or malicious
Ans. (d) does not prove that the complaint was false or malicious — Explanation: Malice must be established after inquiry under Section 14; withdrawal alone does not prove it. [Ref: Section 14(1)]
22. The amount of compensation is
(a) fixed at three months' salary
(b) fixed by the District Officer
(c) fixed at ₹50,000
(d) not fixed by the Act; the Committee decides it having regard to Section 15
Ans. (d) not fixed by the Act; the Committee decides it having regard to Section 15 — Explanation: The Act gives factors, not a fixed amount. [Ref: Section 15]
23. In a criminal case for an offence corresponding to Section 509 IPC, the court may also order compensation to the woman under
(a) Section 14
(b) Section 11(2), having regard to Section 15
(c) Section 21
(d) Section 26
Ans. (b) Section 11(2), having regard to Section 15 — Explanation: Section 11(2) allows the court to order payment by a convicted respondent. [Ref: Section 11(2)]
24. Under Rule 10, where the Committee finds a complaint malicious, it may recommend against the complainant
(a) imprisonment
(b) cancellation of her degree
(c) a fine payable to the respondent
(d) action in the manner set out in Rule 9, such as warning or withholding increment
Ans. (d) action in the manner set out in Rule 9, such as warning or withholding increment — Explanation: Rule 10 refers to the actions in Rule 9 where service rules do not exist. [Ref: Rule 10]
25. Section 14 applies to
(a) the complainant and also any witness
(b) only the respondent
(c) only Committee members
(d) only the employer
Ans. (a) the complainant and also any witness — Explanation: Section 14(1) covers the complainant and Section 14(2) covers witnesses. [Ref: Section 14]
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These questions are prepared for practice from the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (with the 2013 Rules, and Supreme Court and High Court rulings up to 2026). Check the latest notifications and your service rules before relying on any detail.