For HR teams and Internal Committees, 2025 was less about statutory change and more about setting clear standards for PoSH compliance. Courts focused on how organisations interpret harm, exercise jurisdiction, and conduct inquiries, shifting evaluation from intent or form to fairness and consistency. Key themes were understanding harm from the complainant’s perspective, clarifying authority in… Continue reading PoSH in 2025: A Recap of What Courts Expect from Companies and Internal Committees
Tag: POSH Act
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?
PoSH External Members: Where Duty Ends and Liability Begins
External Members were introduced into the PoSH framework to strengthen neutrality, but over time, their role has become layered with expectation, ambiguity, and risk. Organisations rely on them for both expertise and legitimacy, while complainants and respondents look to them for reassurance that the process is fair. The Karnataka High Court’s recent order finally addresses… Continue reading PoSH External Members: Where Duty Ends and Liability Begins
Not All Harassment Is Sexual Harassment? What Every IC Must Understand
The distinction between workplace harassment and sexual harassment is often blurred in real complaints. Employees may report mistreatment without understanding whether it falls under PoSH, leaving ICs to determine where the line is drawn under the law. At what point does an IC member draw a clear line between inappropriate behaviour and a violation under… Continue reading Not All Harassment Is Sexual Harassment? What Every IC Must Understand
Impact vs Intent: What Truly Determines Sexual Harassment?
Among the many questions Internal Committees grapple with, few create as much uncertainty as the balance between impact and intent. When a complaint lands on the IC’s table, members look for evidence, context, timelines, testimonies, and consistency. But eventually, the inquiry always circles back to the same tension: “Should the complainant’s experience of harm take… Continue reading Impact vs Intent: What Truly Determines Sexual Harassment?
Time Limits vs. Justice: SC Removes Controversial Direction in NUJS VC Case
According to a study, 98% of women are aware that sexual harassment occurs through online mediums, yet 87% of these women never reported any instances to the concerned authorities. This underlines a critical issue: awareness does not always translate into action. The PoSH Act, 2013, was enacted as a landmark step in India’s workplace legislation.… Continue reading Time Limits vs. Justice: SC Removes Controversial Direction in NUJS VC Case
From Bare Minimum to Built Right — The Startup Playbook for PoSH Compliance
Most of the founders we have met often juggle through chaos, product, payroll, pitches and policies. So when someone mentions the PoSH Act, it often slips into the “let’s do the bare minimum” pile. But here’s the catch: “minimum” was never meant to mean “optional.” Under the PoSH Act, doing just enough on paper often… Continue reading From Bare Minimum to Built Right — The Startup Playbook for PoSH Compliance
From Performative Compliance to Real Governance: Zooming into the Gaps in India’s Entertainment Industry
“The truth will set you free, but first it will cost you something.” — Anonymous In the world of entertainment, where creativity should soar freely, a harsh reality persists: many women face silence, invisibility, and sometimes outright retaliation when they speak out against harassment. This is not just an incident but a widespread issue. Shockingly,… Continue reading From Performative Compliance to Real Governance: Zooming into the Gaps in India’s Entertainment Industry
Sahitya Akademi Ruling: What ICCs Must Know
This 44-page judgment is pathbreaking, not only for detailing the lapses on the part of the organization but also for outlining, through its reasoning, how the entire fiasco could have been avoided with proper compliance. “Before parting, it must be observed that the present controversy could well have been avoided had the Akademi, as a… Continue reading Sahitya Akademi Ruling: What ICCs Must Know
SC Questions POSH Applicability to Political Parties: Are They Workplaces?
The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a plea to bring political parties under the POSH Act, remarking that widening its scope could invite unintended misuse and open a Pandora’s box. It is imperative for our readers to understand that this ruling doesn’t only bar the Act from extending to political parties but also raises… Continue reading SC Questions POSH Applicability to Political Parties: Are They Workplaces?
