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Workplace Harassment & PoSH

Sexual harassment at work — the PoSH machinery, used properly, on either side.

PoSH Act (Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace), 2013 · IC complaints, inquiry & relief

Overview

The PoSH Act gives every woman at a workplace — employee, consultant, intern, visitor — a dedicated remedy: a complaint to the Internal Committee (IC) within 3 months (extendable), a time-bound inquiry, interim protections (transfer, leave, restraining the respondent), and action against the harasser including termination. Employers without a proper IC face penalties, and retaliation against a complainant is itself actionable. The machinery must also be fair: we represent complainants through the IC process and appeals, respondents facing false or exaggerated complaints, and employers building compliant IC processes — because a defective inquiry fails everyone.

Key Provisions — PoSH Act (Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace), 2013

  • Every workplace with 10+ employees must have an Internal Committee with an external member; district Local Committees cover the rest.
  • Complaints within 3 months of the incident (extendable); inquiry completed in 90 days; action within 60 days of the report.
  • Interim reliefs during inquiry: transfer of either party, leave for the complainant beyond entitlement, no-contact directions.
  • Appeals lie against IC findings; malicious-complaint provisions require proof of malice — mere non-proof is not malice.

What You Can Get

IC inquiry & action against the harasser
Interim protection during inquiry
Compensation from the respondent
Fair defence & appeal for the wrongly accused

How We Handle It

1

Confidential Consultation

The facts, the timeline, and the strongest framing — complainant or respondent.

2

IC Complaint / Response

A precise written complaint (or reply) with evidence and witnesses.

3

Inquiry Support

Representation through hearings, cross-examination, and interim relief applications.

4

Report, Action & Appeal

Enforcement of findings — or appeal against a defective inquiry.

Typical timeline: Complaint within 3 months of incident · inquiry 90 days · appeal within 90 days of the report.

Frequently Asked Questions

My company has no Internal Committee — where do I complain?

To the district Local Committee. The absence of an IC is itself the employer's violation, penalised separately — it never extinguishes your remedy.

I fear retaliation if I complain — can they act against me?

Retaliation (termination, demotion, hostile treatment) after a PoSH complaint is independently actionable and looks terrible for the employer in every forum. Document everything from day one.

Legal Connect connects you with independent employment-law advocates; we are not a law firm and this page is general information, not legal advice. Your enquiry stays confidential — your employer is never contacted without your instruction.

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