The Maharashtra government has authorized a broad network of officials to inspect establishments for compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, in a significant move to strengthen workplace safety for women.
Empowered Officials and Inspection Teams
The Women and Child Development Department issued a government circular on May 14, empowering district officials, women and child welfare officers, protection officers, probation officers, child development project officers, district coordination officers, and anganwadi supervisors to conduct inspections across government, semi-government, and private establishments. A senior department official stated that the circular mandates a dedicated team for inspection drives and provides clear directives for carrying out checks.
State Nodal Officer Appointed
The Commissioner of Women and Child Development, Pune, has been appointed as the state nodal officer responsible for implementation, monitoring, and coordination of POSH compliance throughout Maharashtra. This appointment aims to streamline oversight and ensure consistent enforcement.
Growing Concerns Over Implementation
The initiative comes amid increasing concerns about poor implementation of the POSH Act, which requires every workplace with ten or more employees to constitute an Internal Committee (IC) to address sexual harassment complaints. The state government has directed establishments to integrate the central government's SHe-Box portal into their systems and upload IC details along with annual compliance reports online.
Inspection Parameters and Penalties
According to the circular, inspection teams will assess whether organizations have adopted formal POSH policies, constituted ICs, appointed mandatory external NGO members, conducted employee awareness and sensitization programs, and established proper complaint redressal mechanisms. The circular warns that establishments violating provisions of the POSH Act may face penal action under Section 26 of the law.
Officials said that inspection teams will examine whether organizations maintain confidentiality during inquiries, complete investigations within the mandated 90-day timeline, and provide interim relief to complainants where required.
Detailed Compliance Checklist
The inspection checklist attached to the circular contains more than 30 compliance parameters, including public display of POSH policies at workplaces, at least 50% women members in ICs, and effective functioning of the complaint redressal system. The circular reiterates provisions under Section 16 of the POSH Act, mandating strict confidentiality regarding the identities of complainants, respondents, and witnesses during inquiry proceedings.
Expanded Enforcement Framework
The state has widened the enforcement framework by formally bringing district-level women and child development officials, child development project officers, district coordination officers, and protection officers under the inspection mechanism. Officials stated that the intensified inspection and monitoring drive aims to ensure safer and more gender-sensitive workplaces across the state while strengthening accountability among employers and institutions.
