PoSH timelines often become a point of uncertainty once a complaint is reported later than expected. While the Act prescribes clear time limits for filing complaints, workplace reporting does not always follow statutory schedules. Complaints may surface after delay for reasons that are not captured neatly within legal definitions. This places Internal Committees and employers… Continue reading PoSH Timelines in Practice: How Limitation Works
Tag: organisational accountability
Who Gets to Know What in a PoSH Case? Balancing Confidentiality and Transparency
In a PoSH case, one of the first questions that surfaces, often quietly, and often without clear answers, is about visibility. Who is informed that a complaint has been made, what details are shared, and at what stage? The PoSH Act places a strong emphasis on confidentiality, yet organisations also operate within structures that demand… Continue reading Who Gets to Know What in a PoSH Case? Balancing Confidentiality and Transparency
How Should Organisations Recognise that Internal Committees are Exceeding Their Mandate?
The Bombay High Court’s recent observations on the functioning of Internal Committees did not change the PoSH framework. Instead, they clarified how it is meant to work. The Court reaffirmed that these committees exist for a specific purpose, and their authority cannot be stretched simply because a situation feels uncomfortable or disruptive. The court’s decision… Continue reading How Should Organisations Recognise that Internal Committees are Exceeding Their Mandate?
Empowering ICs: Escaping Over-Reliance on External Members
When the PoSH Act introduced the requirement of an External Member under Section 4(2)(c), the intent was straightforward: to bring in someone independent, trained, and experienced enough to help Internal Committees stay fair and neutral. The law did not envision a marketplace of External Members competing for engagement. It envisioned a steady outside voice that… Continue reading Empowering ICs: Escaping Over-Reliance on External Members
How Fairness Works in POSH Inquiries: What Everyone Involved Should Know
Over the past few years, PoSH inquiries have become a familiar fixture inside organisations. Most employees now know that a formal process exists, that an Internal Committee hears complaints, that reports are issued, and that statutory timelines guide the journey. On paper, the mechanism is no longer new. Yet in conversations with complainants, respondents, HR… Continue reading How Fairness Works in POSH Inquiries: What Everyone Involved Should Know
Does Conciliation End Employer’s PoSH Responsibilities?
What does conciliation actually conclude, the complaint, the inquiry, or the organisation’s responsibility to act? For many companies and Internal Committees(ICs), conciliation under the POSH framework has become a practical way to close a complaint, to de-escalate conflict and restore workplace stability. But it also leaves behind an unsettled question: when an Internal Committee’s inquiry… Continue reading Does Conciliation End Employer’s PoSH Responsibilities?
You’ve Been Appointed to the Internal Committee for the First Time
At Ungender, we often meet people after they have already been appointed to the Internal Committee. The appointment letter has been issued, their name has been shared internally, and somewhere between a calendar invite and a policy document, they have realised that they are now an “IC member.” What usually follows is not confidence, but… Continue reading You’ve Been Appointed to the Internal Committee for the First Time
How ICs Can Manage Cross-Organization Harassment Complaints?
The Supreme Court’s recent observations on the functioning of Internal Committees (ICs) did not alter the PoSH framework but clarified and reinforced its existing principles. This articulation reaffirms that employees retain the right to approach their own IC even when the alleged harasser belongs to another organization, thereby strengthening accountability across workplaces. Until now, many… Continue reading How ICs Can Manage Cross-Organization Harassment Complaints?
Why Manual PoSH Registers Are a Legal Risk (and How Automation Fixes It)
There is a quiet, persistent irony in how organisations approach PoSH compliance.The law demands precision, traceability, and a timeline that can withstand external scrutiny, yet some of the most sensitive workplace records continue to live in Excel sheets with inconsistent formatting, notebooks maintained by whoever inherited the role, and email attachments titled “final_register_v4 (3).xlsx”. The… Continue reading Why Manual PoSH Registers Are a Legal Risk (and How Automation Fixes It)
How Conduct’s Timeline & Documentation Guardrails Prevent Inquiry Failures
In every workplace inquiry, the Internal Committee carries two simultaneous responsibilities: ensuring fairness in the process, and ensuring that the process itself can stand scrutiny. Even the most sincere inquiry can be questioned if timelines slip, if documentation is inconsistent, or if hearing records are incomplete. The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013 is very… Continue reading How Conduct’s Timeline & Documentation Guardrails Prevent Inquiry Failures
