Accused of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

Last updated on Jun 22, 2022

If someone says you have sexually harassed them, you should take it seriously. If you don’t come three times in a row to hearings your employer has set up, you may not get to speak before a decision is made1. Only women are protected from being sexually harassed at their place of work2, but sexual harassment can be done by anyone, male or female3.

Rights of Accused

  • You cannot be arrested without a warrant
  • You have the right to get a copy of the complaint within 7 working days of the complaint being filed4.
  • You have the right to reply. You can submit documents and a list of witnesses within 10 working days of getting the documents from the person who accused you5.
  • You have the right to appeal a decision made by the Internal Committee

If the Internal Committee decides that the sexual harassment claim against you is not true, you will not be punished. However, if they decide the claim is true, the Committee can give your employer or the District Officer options for how you could be punished. Please note that neither you nor the accuser will be allowed to have legal representation6.

  1. Section 7(5), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013.[]
  2. Section 2(a), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.[]
  3. Section 2(m), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.[]
  4. Section 7(2), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013.[]
  5. Section 7(3), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013.[]
  6. Section 7(6), Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013.[]

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