Section 4 — Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee.

4. Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee.— (1) Every employer of a workplace shall, by 

an order in writing, constitute a Committee to be known as the “Internal Complaints Committee”: 



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Provided that where the offices or administrative units of the workplace are located at different places 

or divisional or sub-divisional level, the Internal Committee shall be constituted at all administrative units 

or offices. 

(2) The Internal Committees shall consist of  the following members to be nominated by the 

employer, namely: — 

(a) a Presiding Officer who shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from 

amongst the employees: 

Provided that in case a senior level woman employee is not available, the Presiding Officer shall 

be nominated from other offices or administrative units of the workplace referred to in sub-section(1): 

Provided further that in case the other offices or administrative units of the workplace do not  

have a senior level woman employee, the Presiding Officer shall be nominated from any other 

workplace of the same employer or other department or organisation; 

(b) not less than two Members from amongst employees preferably committed to the cause of 

women or who have had experience in social work or have legal knowledge; 

(c) one member from amongst non-governmental organisations or associations committed to the 

cause of women or a person familiar with the issues relating to sexual harassment: 

Provided that at least one-half of the total Members so nominated shall be women. 

(3) The Presiding Officer and every Member of the Internal Committee shall hold office for such 

period, not exceeding three years, from the date of their nomination as may be specified by the employer. 

(4) The Member appointed from amongst the non-governmental organisations or associations shall be 

paid such fees or allowances for holding the proceedings of the Internal Committee, by the employer, as 

may be prescribed. 

(5) Where the Presiding Officer or any Member of the Internal Committee, — 

(a) contravenes the provisions of section 16; or 

 (b) has been convicted for an offence or an inquiry into an offence under any law for the time 

being in force is pending against him; or 

(c) he has been found quilty in any disciplinary proceedings or a disciplinary proceeding is 

pending against him; or 

(d) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public 

interest, 

such Presiding Officer or Member, as the case may be, shall be removed from the Committee and the 

vacancy so created or any casual vacancy shall be filled by fresh nomination in accordance with the 

provisions of this section. 

CHAPTER III 

CONSTITUTION OF LOCAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE