We know that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly called the POSH Act, mandates every organization that has ten or more employees to formulate an Internal Committee (IC) to receive and redress complaints of sexual harassment against women at workplace.

Does it mean that only employees of organizations that has at least ten employees receive the protection of the POSH Act?

Should women working in the unorganized sector file a complaint with the police if they face sexual harassment at work?

This is where the Local Complaints Committee comes into picture.

The POSH Act is very comprehensive and has ensured that every women employee is covered. The Local Complaints Committee is formed to ensure protection against sexual harassment for women employees working in organizations that have less than 10 employees. This blog gives a detailed information about the formation of LCC and its working.

What is Local Complaints Committee?

Local Complaints Committee (LCC) is a body formulated according to the Section 6 of the POSH Act. The section states that the District Officer must form the Local Complaints Committee for the respective district. LCC will receive and redress complaints of sexual harassment from:

1. Employees of organizations that do not have an Internal Committee because it has less than ten employees.
2. Women working in unorganized sector like housekeeping staff and
3. Employees from organization with more than ten employees if the complaint is against the employer him/herself.

The jurisdiction of LCC extends to the areas of the district where it is constituted.

Structure of Local Complaints Committee

The Local Complaints Committee should have a minimum of  five members and at least 50% of the members must be women. The LCC must consist of

1. Chairperson: An eminent woman in the field of social work and committed to the cause of women
2. Member: A woman working in block, taluka or tehsil or ward or municipality in the district
3. Two members: Working in a non-governmental organisation or association committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with the issues relating to sexual harassment. One of them should be a woman.

One of the members who is nominated will have strong background in law or legal knowledge. Additionally, one of the members will be a woman belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes or the Other Backward Classes or minority community.

1. In addition to these, the officer dealing with the social welfare or women and child development in the district will be an LCC member by default.

All members of the Local Complaints Committee are nominated for a three-year term from the date of their appointment.  However, an LCC member can be removed from his/her position before the tenure if he/she:

• Breaches confidentiality,
• Is found guilty of an offence or is accused of an offence and the inquiry into it is pending,
• Is found guilty or has any pending disciplinary proceedings or
• Has abused any powers to continue in their positions in office which could be against the public interest.

In such case, the member has to step down and the resultant vacancy has to be filled with an individual who possesses the qualification to be in the position.

How can you file complaints with LCC?

The District Officer will appoint a nodal officer in every block, taluka and tehsil in rural or tribal area and ward or municipality in the urban area. If a woman working in unorganized sector or in an organization that has less than 10 employees faces sexual harassment, she can send six copies of the complaint along with evidence and details of witness to the nodal officer. The nodal officer must forward the complaint to the LCC within seven days.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the LCC will send one copy of the complaint to the respondent, against whom the complaint is filed. The respondent must send his/her reply with the evidence and details of witness he would like to present within ten days from the day he received the complaint.

Where can Sunita file a complaint if there is no Local Complaints Committee?

In the absence of a Local Complaints Committee, any woman who has faced sexual harassment can file a complaint with the police.

Redressal Options

There are two options to redress the complaint of the aggrieved – Conciliation and Inquiry. If the complainant informs in writing that she wishes to settle the issue between her and the respondent through conciliation, the LCC must take necessary steps for conciliation. If the complainant would like to go ahead with inquiry, the LCC must begin the inquiry. Neither the complainant nor the respondent can bring a lawyer to represent them during the inquiry. Inquiry must be completed within ninety days since the receipt of complaint.

Upon the completion of the inquiry, the LCC will submit an inquiry report to the District Officer. The report will contain its findings and recommendations of the actions to be taken against the guilty. A copy of the same is shared with the complainant and respondent.

The Chairperson and the two members from the NGO/association are entitled to a remuneration for holding the inquiry proceedings of the Local Complains Committee.

Submission of Annual Report

Just like the Internal Committee, the LCC must submit an Annual Report to the District Officer every calendar year. The report must contain the following information:

• Number of complaints of sexual harassment received in the year
• Number or complaints disposed of during the year
• Number of cases pending for more than ninety days
• Number of workshops or awareness programme carried out and
• Nature of action taken by the District Officer.

To locate the LCC of your district, either contact the District Officer or refer to notification made by your district administration.

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