'Virtual workspace must come under workplace for POSH'

Incidents of sexual harassment of women during online meetings must fall within the ambit of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), Delhi High Court judge Justice Prathiba M Singh said on Friday, underscoring the need to adapt the legal framework to evolving digital work environments.

- Shruti Kakkar

Speaking to HT on the side lines of the “NoMeansNo 3rd National POSH Conclave & Excellence Awards,” justice Singh called for formally expanding the definition of “workplace” under the Act to explicitly include virtual, electronic, and digital platforms.

She also stressed the importance of establishing clear protocols for preserving electronic evidence in cases of online sexual harassment. “The word ‘virtual workspace’ must be added to the definition of workplace,” she said, adding that the Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) should be empowered to address harassment in these spaces.