A senior associate once casually referred to a junior colleague as “princess” and considered it to be harmless. It led to a PoSH complaint. His intention may not have been malicious, but the impact was. This is not an isolated story. In workplaces today—especially in formal sectors like law and government—Justice Prathiba M. Singh of the Delhi High Court says many sexual harassment complaints arise not from overt acts of misconduct, but from a lack of awareness, sensitivity and understanding of boundaries.
In a progressive step to address both deliberate harassment and communication-based misunderstandings, the Delhi High Court on June 3, 2025, launched a dedicated online portal for filing sexual harassment complaints. The platform integrates the Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) of the Delhi High Court, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), and the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD)—making it easier for complainants to identify the correct forum based on the respondent’s affiliation.
The portal is accessible via the Delhi High Court website and offers three tabs for complainants—one each for the Delhi HC staff, DHCBA, and BCD. BCD’s ICC platform is titled “Tejasvi”. The goal is simple and straightforward: confidential, secure and user-friendly access to justice, especially for those hesitant to file complaints in person.
Justice Prathiba Singh, Chairperson of the Court’s ICC, highlighted that in the last decade, 17 complaints were entertained, many of which stemmed from miscommunication or lack of sensitisation, not always from predatory behaviour. She emphasised the need for mandatory sensitisation, quicker redressal procedures, and a shift in legislation to cover men and individuals of diverse sexual orientations as well.
To further expedite justice, the High Court has finalised uniform complaint resolution guidelines, soon to be published. Mediation and conciliation, too, have been suggested in cases arising from ego conflicts or misunderstandings.
Similarly, all private and public organisations must register on SHe-Box
Just as the judiciary is taking digital steps, private and public organisations across India are legally required to register on the SHe-Box—the Sexual Harassment e-box platform run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. SHe-Box provides a centralised, confidential online system to file complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
All employers—whether in government or private sector—are mandatorily required under the PoSH Act, 2013, to:
- Constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC),
- Conduct regular sensitisation sessions,
- Register their ICC with SHe-Box.
This ensures that all complaints are monitored at the central level, bringing greater accountability, transparency and legal compliance.
Want to register your organisation or file a complaint on SHe-Box?
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