Supreme Court Judge Justice N. Kotiswar Singh expressed serious concern over the misuse of the POSH Act, 2013, during the launch of Delhi High Court’s digital portal for filing workplace sexual harassment complaints. Calling false complaints “dangerous,” he said such actions erode trust in the justice system.
Comparing the POSH Act to the Dowry and Domestic Violence laws, Justice Singh acknowledged that while the law has protected many women, misuse has also occurred. “Making false allegations is equally dangerous,” he remarked.
He stressed that the Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) must uphold fairness and approach matters with empathy, not legal aggression. Justice Prathiba M. Singh, Chairperson of the Delhi HC ICC, also highlighted that many complaints stem from misunderstanding or lack of awareness, not always malice.
The newly launched portal, jointly developed by the Delhi HC Bar Association and Bar Council, aims to ease complaint filing and improve access to ICCs. It features FAQs, legal support, and document-saving features.
Justice Prathiba Singh proposed that the definition of “complainant” under the POSH Act should be expanded beyond women to include men and gender minorities. Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay emphasised conciliation before formal trials and warned against misinterpreting POSH complaints due to ignorance.
The launch event was attended by several Delhi High Court judges and legal dignitaries. DHCBA President N. Hariharan called the portal a “promise” towards safer workplaces and urged the legal fraternity to uphold dignity and equality.
Sources
- Law Chakra. “Supreme Court Justice NK Singh Hard-Hitting Warning: ‘False Complaints Under PoSH Act Are Dangerous, Can Damage the System.” July 4, 2025, https://lawchakra.in/supreme-court/supreme-court-justice-nk-singh-posh-act/
- Bar & Bench. “False Allegations under Workplace Harassment Law Dangerous: Supreme Court Justice N Kotiswar Singh.” July 4, 2025, https://www.barandbench.com/news/false-allegations-under-workplace-harassment-law-dangerous-supreme-court-justice-n-kotiswar-singh
- LiveLaw. “Justice N Kotiswar Singh Speaks on Misuse of PoSH Act.” July 4, 2025, https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/sexual-harassment-of-women-at-workplace-justice-n-kotiswar-singh-speech-supreme-court-296434