Form separate PoSH panels in 127 units within 4 weeks: Women commission to TCS

DELHI/PUNE: The National Commission for Women has directed Tata Consultancy Services to constitute separate Internal Committees in all its 127 units with 10 or more employees within four weeks, after raising serious concerns over workplace safety and implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH), in the firm’s Nashik centre.

A hearing in the Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) Nashik case was conducted on Thursday under the National Commission for Women (NCW) chief, Vijaya Rahatkar. Senior TCS officials attended the proceedings virtually after the commission accepted a special request from the firm. The NCW additional secretary, B Radhika Chakravarthy, members of the fact-finding committee constituted by the commission and senior NCW officials also attended the hearing.

During the proceedings, the commission flagged “systemic gaps” in workplace safety and PoSH compliance at the Nashik unit. Issues raised included the absence of accessible local HR (human resource) infrastructure and grievance redressal mechanisms, lack of a dedicated Internal Committee for the Nashik office, absence of a proper mechanism for filing PoSH complaints, non-functional CCTV infrastructure, concerns regarding supervisory accountability and continuation of a joint Internal Committee for both Pune and Nashik units despite statutory requirements under the PoSH Act.

NCW chairperson Rahatkar told TOI, “Organisations must understand that compliance with the POSH act is not a formality but a moral, legal and institutional responsibility. When complaints are ignored or workplace culture becomes insensitive, it not only endangers women employees but also weakens the credibility, productivity and long-term growth of the organisation itself.’’

She said, “Every institution must ensure a robust Internal Committee, timely redressal of complaints, transparency, sensitivity and strict accountability at every level. Women should never feel unheard, unsafe or unsupported in professional spaces.’

The commission questioned why no senior TCS official had visited the Nashik centre to directly interact with employees despite the seriousness of the concerns raised during the inquiry.

Apart from setting up separate Internal Committees at all eligible units, the company has been told to conduct comprehensive PoSH training programmes, ensure submission of annual PoSH reports to authorities concerned and ensure physical presence of officials concerned during the next review meeting scheduled after four weeks.

During the hearing, the NCW iterated that organisations must approach PoSH victims with “compassion, sensitivity and empathy”. It also clarified that criminal proceedings in the matter would continue independently in accordance with law, while the commission’s focus remained on ensuring effective implementation of the PoSH Act and strengthening workplace safety mechanisms for women employees.

The NCW’s Fact Finding Committee’s report, submitted to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis earlier this month, found a “toxic workplace environment” marked by “pervasive sexual harassment” and “abuse of authority” at the TCS office in Nasik.

Acknowledging and respecting the Tata Group’s significant contribution to the nation, the NCW emphasised that as a nationally respected corporate institution and role model, the group was expected to uphold and implement the provisions of the PoSH Act in both letter and spirit.