In a statement, A.S. Shankarapandian, General Secretary of Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI), stated as follows:
Based on the Vishaka judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in 1997, guidelines required committees to be established to prevent sexual harassment of women at workplaces and investigate complaints. After the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act was enacted in 2013, this came to be known as the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the POSH law.
Accordingly, an ICC must be constituted in private and government workplaces with ten or more employees. A woman officer should serve as the chairperson, and 50% of the members should be women. An external member with experience in women’s rights should also be appointed. The names and contact numbers of committee members should be displayed at the workplace.
In June 2025, the government issued an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) on this matter. Following this, LCCs (Local Complaints Committees) headed by District Collectors have been constituted in all districts. These committees can conduct inquiries and take action in appeals from Internal Complaints Committees and in situations where there is no confidence in the Internal Complaints Committee.
The ICC, which is required to protect the rights of women affected at workplaces, has powers equivalent to those of a civil court. However, the specified committees have still not been constituted in several government departments. As a result, affected women face major difficulties in obtaining justice, leaving the safety of women employees in question.
In many places, committees that have been constituted are either not properly formed or are not functioning. When even government departments have not established these committees, private organisations also show little attention to the issue. According to information released in July 2025, around 50 government arts and science colleges had still not constituted ICCs. As a result, women students are unable to report their problems. At a time when women are being affected in various ways, the Tamil Nadu Government must ensure that Vishaka Committees are properly constituted in all government and private institutions to protect their safety.
Head Office,
Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI).