How to Handle Annual Reports for Sexual Harassment App with No Cases Reported?

Hi,

We are based out of Noida and received an email from the DM to register on the Sexual Harassment app. We did not have an ICC committee, which we have now formed. My concern is that we have nothing to submit as an Annual report. Can anyone suggest if there were no registered cases in the year 2019, can we leave the annual report option blank?

Regards,
Pallavi

Filing of the Annual Report by the Internal Committee

Filing of the Annual Report by the Internal Committee is mandatory (legally compulsory) under Section 21 of the "Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013". Since the provisions came into force with effect from 9th Dec 2013, the filing of the IC Annual Report is lawful, failing which stiff penalties are gazetted.

It is the legal duty and responsibility of each Internal Committee, constituted under Section 4, to file the Annual Report (under Section 21) with a copy of the Annual Report marked to or forwarded to the employer for the latter to "incorporate" the data in the Annual Report of the company, establishment, or institution under Section 22 of the said Act.

Filing with the District Officer

Hence, the Annual Report of the IC must be filed before the District Officer of the concerned district as notified under Section 5, for preceding calendar years beginning 2014. Please file it now, furnishing details or a nil report; no column should be left blank. Refer to Section 26 of the aforementioned Act to know about the penal action for non-compliance.

Kritarth Team of Special Educators
Bengaluru Centre
13 Feb 2020