Statutory empanelment
External Member, Internal Complaints Committee
Counsel is available, on intimation and conflict-check, as the external member required under section 4(2)(c) of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Statutory framework
Every organisation employing ten or more workers must constitute an Internal Complaints Committee. The committee includes a Presiding Officer (a senior woman), at least two members from amongst the employees, and one external member from a non-governmental organisation or association committed to the cause of women, or familiar with the issues relating to sexual harassment.
- Independence and neutrality, statutorily mandated.
- Familiarity with the procedural framework of the Act and the 2013 Rules.
- Working knowledge of evidentiary standards in inquiry proceedings before the committee.
- Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu.
Scope, on a per-engagement basis
- Sitting as external member on the ICC.
- Drafting and review of the policy and code of conduct under section 19.
- Awareness and orientation programmes for employees and managers.
- Annual report under section 21, to the District Officer.
- Inquiry proceedings under section 11 and rule 7.
Confidentiality
All deliberations of the committee are confidential as a matter of statutory duty. Section 16 of the Act and rule 12 prohibit publication or making known the contents of the complaint, the identity and addresses of the aggrieved woman, the respondent, the witnesses, or any information relating to conciliation and inquiry proceedings.