In a significant judicial intervention aimed at strengthening workplace safety for women and gender-diverse persons, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday reviewed the nationwide implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).
The court, hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by petitioner Geeta Rani seeking uniform enforcement of the POSH Act, called for detailed compliance reports from all High Courts, courts and tribunals, and directed state and union territory administrations to adhere strictly to statutory requirements for handling sexual harassment complaints.
The Supreme Court asked all High Courts to report on whether Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committees (GSICCs) have been established in every court, tribunal, and allied judicial body, highlighting the need for internal mechanisms to address harassment at the highest levels of the justice system.
The court stressed that several states and union territories have yet to fully constitute Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in both public and private establishments, an essential requirement under the Act. In response to a survey presented before the court, authorities acknowledged gaps in the appointment of district and nodal officers tasked with overseeing sexual harassment grievance redressal.
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The bench noted persistent deficiencies in gender sensitisation and awareness efforts among court staff, security personnel, and lawyers — issues that compromise the safety and dignity of women in legal workplaces.
The court has allotted three weeks for all states and union territories to submit updated compliance reports and directed that these be shared widely to ensure transparent monitoring.
Despite previous directives — including timelines for establishing ICCs in government departments and appointing nodal officers — enforcement has been patchy. Many states have focused primarily on government institutions, with private sector compliance still lagging.
Legal experts and workplace safety advocates welcomed the court’s renewed focus on POSH implementation, saying Supreme Court scrutiny could accelerate structural reforms and make workplace grievance mechanisms more effective. However, they also underscored the need for regular gender-sensitivity training and accountability mechanisms beyond mere committee formation.
This development follows a trend of judicial rulings strengthening POSH Act application, including decisions affirming the jurisdiction of ICCs to hear complaints even if the accused works in a different department and reaffirming employers’ obligation to set up ICCs where more than ten employees are engaged.
The Supreme Court’s action marks a concerted effort to transition from policy guarantees to practical, enforceable protections for women and gender-diverse individuals in workplaces across the country.
(Report compiled with inputs from Hindustan Times)
