Kerala High Court Advocates Association Becomes 1st To Establish Internal Complaints Committee Under POSH Act
The decision enabling the same was taken in the General Body Meeting held on January 21, 2025.
In a progressive step towards ensuring a safe and inclusive professional environment, the Kerala High Court Advocates' Association (KHCAA) has constituted an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to address concerns of sexual harassment faced by its women members.
The decision for the same was taken in a General Body Meeting of the Association held on January 21, 2025.
Though KHCAA does not fall under the definition of an 'employer' as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), the initiative reflects the association’s commitment to upholding the dignity and safety of its women advocates.
Recognizing the absence of a dedicated redressal mechanism for female lawyers, KHCAA has voluntarily established the ICC to provide a platform for complaints, facilitate inquiries, offer legal assistance, and ensure justice.
"As known to our esteemed members, KHCAA does not qualify as an 'employer' under The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH ACT) and there is no statutory requirement to have such committee as regards our members. However, there are growing concerns of sexual harassment of women at workplace and for our lady members there is no other platform available to voice their concerns/grievances. Safety of our lady members is of paramount importance and hence, formation of an internal complaints committee is a step in the right direction for inquiring such incidents, rendering legal help to the complainants and ensuring justice," the High Court Advocates' Association's release signed by its Secretary, MR Nandakumar, reads.
Structure of the Internal Complaints Committee
The KHCAA has modeled its ICC in accordance with Section 4 of the POSH Act. The committee will be presided over by the Lady Vice President and will include two women members and one male member from the Executive Committee. Additionally, a woman representative from an NGO or an organization dedicated to women's rights will be co-opted as needed.
The current composition of the KHCAA ICC is as follows:
1. Presiding Officer: Advocates Rema R.
2. Members: Advocates K.A.M. Haris, Asha Treesa Jose, Reni James
3. NGO Member: To be co-opted when required
"The structure of our internal complaints committee is akin to the one provided under S.4 of the Act of 2013 and will be presided by the Lady Vice President and consist of two lady members and a male member of the Executive Committee. Apart from this, a lady member from an NGO or associations committed to the cause of women will be included as and when such complaints are received. The details of the present Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) are stated below for information," the release reads.
