The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) was enacted as a comprehensive legislation to ensure a safe, secure environment, free from sexual harassment to every woman.
The corporate POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Policy is indeed applicable to all employees of the company, including women at the workplace, irrespective of their age. Additionally, it aims to provide protection to women employees not only within the premises of the company but also during any work-related travel or activities.
The purpose of the POSH Policy is to provide a safe working environment for women in the Company, safeguarding them from any form of harassment by individuals they come into contact with at the workplace. According to the policy, every company is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee in accordance with Sexual Harassment Laws to address any complaints of sexual harassment filed by an Aggrieved Woman.
The company must ensure the comprehensive implementation of this policy by preventing acts of sexual harassment, facilitating proper reporting and prompt redressal of complaints, and establishing follow-up procedures. Additionally, it should foster an environment that promotes awareness among employees regarding sexual harassment in its various forms and sensitizes them to the provisions outlined in the Sexual Harassment Laws.
This policy aims to safeguard women employees from acts of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment encompasses any one or more of the unwelcome acts or behaviors, whether direct or implied, including:
Additionally, the following circumstances, among others, if they occur or are present in relation to or connected with any of the above acts or behaviors of sexual harassment, will also constitute sexual harassment:
The Company has constituted an Internal Complaints Committee in accordance with Section 4 of the Act. The Presiding Officer of the Committee and other members comprising the Committee who will be nominated by the Company shall hold office in accordance with the Sexual Harassment Laws and shall be notified by the Company from time to time.
An Aggrieved Woman may make, in writing, a complaint of Sexual Harassment to the Committee, within a period of three months from the date of incident and in case of a series of incidents, within a period of three months from the date of the last incident.
Provided that where such complaint cannot be made in writing, the Presiding Officer or any Member of the Committee, as the case may be, shall render all reasonable assistance to the Aggrieved Woman for making the complaint in writing.
Provided further that the Committee may, for the reasons to be recorded in writing extend the time limit not exceeding three months, if it is satisfied that the circumstances were such which prevented the Aggrieved Woman from filing a complaint within the above said period of three months.
In case the Aggrieved Woman is unable to make a complaint then a complaint can also be filed in accordance with the Sexual Harassment Laws by her legal heirs, relatives, friends, co-workers, officer of the National or State Commission for Women, special educator, qualified psychologist, guardian or any person who knows about the incident as the case may be.
On the receipt of the Complaint, the Committee shall sit within 48 working hours and brief the Aggrieved Woman about the provisions of the Act and remove deficiencies, if any in the Complaint which is filed.
The Committee may, before initiating an inquiry on the Complaint and at the request of the Aggrieved Woman take steps to settle the matter between her and the Respondent through conciliation. However, no monetary settlement shall be made the basis of this conciliation between the Aggrieved Woman and the Respondent.
The settlement so arrived at between the parties shall be recorded in writing by the Committee and a copy of which shall be furnished to the authorized representative of the Company and also to the parties.
Where a settlement is arrived at, as provided above, no further inquiry shall be conducted by the Committee unless the Respondent breaches any condition of the settlement.
In case no settlement is arrived at between the parties and the Respondent is an Employee of the Company, the Committee shall proceed to inquire into the complaint in the manner as provided under the Service Rules and Sexual Harassment Laws, as may be applicable.
Further, if the Aggrieved Woman informs the Committee that any term or condition of the settlement (as provided above) arrived at between the parties has not been complied with by the Respondent; the Committee shall proceed to inquire into the complaint.
Provided further that where both the parties are Employees, the parties shall, during inquiry, be given an opportunity to be heard and a copy of the interim findings of the Committee shall be made available to both the parties enabling them to make representations against the findings before the Committee.
| Presence of Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Committee (Yes/No) | Name of POSH Members | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Mr. Ramesh Kumar | 8800504847 |
| Yes | Mrs. Rajalakshmi Venkatraman | 8851570692 |
| Yes | Mr. Rahul | 9555311472 |
| Yes | Ms. Bharti | 8750873075 |