Under the POSH Act, 2013, every workplace is required to constitute an Internal Committee (IC) to handle the prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment. The IC plays a central role in establishing fair, confidential and time-bound complaint procedures.

An effective IC ensures:

• No victimisation results from making a complaint
• Procedures are well documented, accessible and available in appropriate formats
• Committee members are adequately trained
• Assistance, including language support, is available to all parties
• The process is confidential, independent and based on principles of natural justice
• Clear timelines are established and followed
• Conflicts of interest are identified and managed appropriately

Our team provides consultation to help you constitute and operationalise the IC in your organisation. Each committee member receives a ‘Beginners Kit’ covering roles, responsibilities and legal obligations. A properly constituted IC includes:

• A Presiding Officer — the most senior woman employee at the workplace
• At least two members from amongst employees, preferably with experience in social work or legal knowledge
• One external member from an NGO or association committed to the cause of women, or a person familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment
• At least half of the total members must be women