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The sexual harassment of women at workplace Prevention,Prohibition, and Redressal Act 2013
POSH act was passed by Loksabha on 3-sep-2012 and Rajya Sabha on 26-Feb-2013 and got the assent of the president of India on 23-April-2013. POSH act came into force from Dec 9 2013.POSH act supercedes Vishaka guidelines which was given by the supreme court of india.
POSH act created a mechanism for complaint redressal,at the same time the act also safeguards against false and malicious complaints. Any women is covered irrespective of her age or employment status.
As per the POSH act every employer is required to constitute an internal complaints committee at every office/branch office where there are more than 10 employees.
internal complaints committee has to conduct enquiry based on the aggrerived womens complaint within 90days.
Act requires employers to conduct training/sensitisation programmes for all their employees.
Employers may face fine of Upto Rs 50000 and Repeat violations can lead to cancellations of licenses etc.
Article 14 of the constitution of India provides "equality of status and opportunity" , Equality under the law is a fundamental right given by our founding fathers. No women can therefore be denied a safe workplace. Sexual harassment is a gross violation of fundamental rights of women. Verbal and physical threat can cause irreversable physcological scars.
Often the victim of harassment fear reprisal or consequence , losing their livelihood,loss of reputation etc,there are several other factors which prevent women at our workplace from standing up to harassment. harassment at workplace often involves serious human and physiological costs.
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act was formed in 2013 to prohibit women being sexually harassed at work place , prevention of such incidents and emphasizes a proper redressal mechanism.
POSH Act is a law enacted by the Central Government of India for prevention of sexual harrassment against women at their workplaces and also to provide a grievance redressal mechanism to combat the same and connected matters. Under the POSH Act, various provisions for implementing the mechanism and information about the officers concerned and punishments for offenders are provided.