5 months ago
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The Madras High Court has commended the Tamil Nadu authorities for having implemented astir of a bid of directions issued by it since November 21, 2024, for preventing intersexual harassment of women astatine workplaces and discouraging misogynistic attitudes amongst the employees.
Justice R.N. Manjula wrote: “The wide effect and involvement shown by the State Government successful implementing the directions is nary uncertainty commendable.” She besides appreciated Additional Advocate General M. Ajmal Khan and different instrumentality officers for having shown keen involvement connected the issue.
After signaling the submission of a cardinal authorities elder sheet counsel that the Centre was keenly watching the proactive steps taken by the Tamil Nadu authorities and that it was arsenic committed to taking akin actions, the justice said: “Such a committedness is nary uncertainty the request of the hour.”
Listing retired the directions that had been complied with by the State authorities truthful far, the justice said, the State had formulated a Standard Operating Procedure for effectual implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women astatine Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 soon known arsenic POSH Act.
She appreciated the State Commission for Women for having taken pains to hole a draught which was of large assistance to the authorities successful framing the SOP published done a Government Order issued by the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment section connected June 19, 2025.
Justice Manjula besides took enactment of 22,044 Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) having been formed truthful acold successful authorities establishments and 34,907 ICCs successful backstage establishments. Of the full fig of 56,951 ICCs, details regarding 41,103 ICCs had already been uploaded connected the TN POSH portal successful compliance of tribunal orders.
The justice besides recovered that a G.O. had already been issued, instructing each heads of departments to authorise designated officers to inspect workplaces for compliance with the POSH Act and find retired whether the ICCs had been decently constituted and whether they were functional.
In compliance with yet different direction, the State authorities had reported to person included questions connected sex sensitisation successful the competitory examinations conducted by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission, Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board, Medical Recruitment Board and Teacher Recruitment Board.
The tribunal was further informed that a G.O. had been issued connected April 22, 2025, for constituting ‘gender sensitivity audit squads’ to inspect workplaces, measure worker behaviour utilizing customised tools and urge enactment if the senstivity was recovered to beryllium beneath the required level.
