Maharashtra Orders POSH Internal Committee Audit Across Government & Private Establishments

In a major compliance development, the Maharashtra Women’s Commission has directed District Collectors and Divisional Commissioners to conduct a district-level audit of Internal Committees constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act). The audit, to be completed within one month, will cover government offices and private establishments across Maharashtra. The move aims to ensure strict implementation of POSH compliance requirements, including proper constitution of Internal Committees (IC), submission of Annual Reports, mandatory workplace display, and employee awareness training. Under the POSH Act, 2013, every employer employing ten or more employees must constitute an Internal Committee to address complaints of workplace sexual harassment. Failure to comply may attract penalties up to ₹50,000, and repeated violations may lead to further regulatory action. With inspections expected at the district level, employers in Maharashtra are strongly advised to conduct an immediate POSH compliance review, verify IC constitution, update policies, and ensure statutory reporting to mitigate legal and reputational risk.