POSH complaint format: writing to the Internal Committee

A POSH complaint is a written complaint to your workplace’s Internal Committee (IC, often called the ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. Neither the Act nor the 2013 Rules sets out a fill-in form. The Ministry of Women and Child Development’s handbook says the complaint should describe each incident, with the dates, times and places, the respondent’s name and your working relationship. This guide for India helps you prepare; it does not decide whether conduct falls under the Act.

ICC or Local Committee: where to file

Employers must set up an IC, display the order constituting it and declare its members’ names and contact details. The Local Committee (LC), set up by the District Officer, receives complaints from workplaces that have no IC because they have fewer than ten workers, and complaints against the employer. A nodal officer in each rural block, taluka or tehsil and each urban ward or municipality can receive a complaint and must forward it to the LC within seven days. If part of your situation is about pay or termination, see SAMADHAN portal or POSH complaint: which route fits.

What to write in a POSH complaint

• You and the respondent: your name and role; the respondent’s name, designation and working relationship to you.
• Each incident, oldest first: date and approximate time, place or channel, what was said or done, who was present and what you did next. Quote exact words and mark anything you are unsure of.
• Supporting documents: a numbered list of messages, emails or other records, and where the originals are kept.
• Witnesses: their names and addresses.
• What you are asking for: an inquiry, conciliation (only at your request under the Act, and never based on a monetary settlement), or interim steps during the inquiry.

If you cannot write the complaint yourself, the Act requires the Presiding Officer or any member to give reasonable help. The free incident log template can help you draft each incident. For keeping dated notes before you write, see workplace harassment notes in India: when SHe-Box fits.

A fictional entry

Invented example, not a real person or workplace: “Friday 7 August 2026, about 8:15 pm, office cab after the late shift. Team lead R sat beside me, made a remark about my appearance and touched my knee. I moved away and said, ‘Please stop.’ I am sure of my words, not his. Colleague S sat in front; I do not know what S noticed. At 9:02 pm I messaged a friend about it.”

POSH complaint timeline after you file

The Act sets the overall limits. Where service rules apply to the respondent, they govern the inquiry; otherwise the 2013 Rules add the copy, reply and lawyer steps.

1. Within three months of the last incident: hand in the complaint; the Rules ask for six copies with your supporting documents and witnesses’ details. Keep a copy and note when and how you delivered it.
2. Within seven working days: the committee sends a copy to the respondent, who has ten working days to reply.
3. During the inquiry: you can ask in writing for interim relief, such as a transfer, up to three months’ leave, or that the respondent not assess your work. Neither side may bring a lawyer to represent them before the committee.
4. Within 90 days: the inquiry should be completed; the report follows within ten days and is made available to both parties. The employer or District Officer acts on it within 60 days.
5. Within 90 days of the recommendations: either party can appeal.

Common slip-ups

• Waiting for a complete file while the three-month period runs.
• Leaving out your own replies, or editing the original screenshots instead of a copy.
• Posting details online; section 16 says the complaint’s contents and the identities of those involved are not to be made public.

If you are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first. Kirokune keeps your notes, photos and exported chats in time order on your iPhone. It does not diagnose, decide what happened, or give legal advice, and it does not file anything for you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time limit to file a POSH complaint?

Section 9 of the POSH Act says a written complaint is to be made within three months of the incident, or of the last incident in a series. The Internal or Local Committee can extend this by up to three months, recording its reasons in writing, if circumstances prevented you from filing in time.

Is there an official POSH complaint format?

The Act and the 2013 Rules do not provide a fill-in form. The Ministry’s handbook lists what the complaint should contain: a description of each incident, the dates, times and places, the respondent’s name and your working relationship. Your employer’s policy may add its own form or steps.

Can someone else file a POSH complaint on my behalf?

Only in the situations the Act and Rules describe. If you cannot complain because of physical or mental incapacity, the Rules list who may file for you, for example a relative or friend. For any other reason, a person who knows of the incident may file with your written consent.

Kirokune helps you keep a record. It does not diagnose, decide what happened, or give legal advice.