Today, On 13th July, The Centre informed the Supreme Court that it is making progress on developing a dashboard for government-level committees under the POSH Act. The Court noted that numerous internal complaints committees (ICCs), required by the Act, have not been adequately formed.
New Delhi: The Central Government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it is in the process of developing a dashboard to track details of all Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) within government departments and ministries.
A Bench consisting of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta observed that several ICCs, which are required under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013 (POSH Act), have not been properly established.
Read Also: Supreme Court Mandates Internal Complaint Committees for Harassment Reporting
During the hearing, Justice Mehta suggested the creation of a dashboard to oversee the implementation of the POSH Act. In response, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Union government, confirmed that such a dashboard was a work in progress.
She stated,
“As an officer of the court, I believe it should include details such as the constitution of the committee, the date of its formation, the total number of complaints received, and the number of complaints resolved,”
Justice Kohli added,
“This is an initiative that all states must undertake, as it would reduce the need for manpower and minimize human intervention.”
In May of last year, the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the significant lapses in the enforcement of the POSH Act, even a decade after its enactment.
The Court emphasized that all state authorities, public bodies, private enterprises, organizations, and institutions have a legal obligation to implement the POSH Act fully and faithfully.
It issued a series of directives aimed at ensuring the robust and effective enforcement of the Act, stressing that women in the workplace will only be treated with dignity and respect if there is strict adherence to the law and a proactive stance from both state and non-state actors.
The Court continued to monitor the case to guarantee that the provisions of the POSH Act are properly implemented.
Advocate Padma Priya appointed as the Amicus Curiae in this matter.
The case has been adjourned for four weeks to allow time for ministries and state governments to submit comprehensive compliance affidavits.
The Court has been closely monitoring the progress of the case to ensure that the provisions of the POSH Act are being implemented effectively across all sectors. The case has been adjourned for four weeks to allow ministries and state governments to file comprehensive compliance affidavits, further highlighting the importance of this initiative in promoting a safer and more respectful work environment for women across the country.