The Delhi High Court was of the view that the reports submitted by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under The Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 contained the findings, as determined by the inquiry. However, the reports failed to establish a definitive conclusion with respect to the guilt of the employee pertaining to the charges framed against him in the complaint(s). It was ruled that the operative portions of the reports submitted by the ICC to the employer, therefore, being in violation of the said Act, are liable to be set aside. The ICC was further ordered by the Delhi High Court to submit fresh reports to the employer. It may be pertinent to state that the Delhi High Court quashed the employee’s allegation in relation to violation of the principles of natural justice (as stated above) and opined that, such grievances will have to be addressed by the employer to whom the inquiry reports are submitted in accordance with the Act, and any decision of the employer would be subject to appeal under the Act.
India