Calcutta High Court Reinforces Timely Action in POSH Cases: Bidyut Chakraborty v. Visva-Bharati University & Others
In a significant ruling highlighting the importance of timely action and procedural diligence under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 ( POSH Act ), the Calcutta High Court in Bidyut Chakraborty v. Visva-Bharati University & Others emphasized that delay in initiating action on sexual harassment complaints can defeat the very purpose of the law. The Court made it clear that both Internal Committees (ICs) and employers have an obligation to act promptly and decisively when such allegations arise. The case revolved around a senior university official, Bidyut Chakraborty, who faced allegations of sexual harassment raised by a woman employee. The complainant approached the Court after the university authorities delayed taking appropriate action on her complaint, effectively stalling the initiation of the formal inquiry under the POSH framework. The inaction led the complainant to seek judicial intervention to ensure enforcement...