Fri Feb 14 16:24:52 UTC 2025: ## Delhi High Court Judge Advocates for Stronger, Faster Sexual Harassment Laws

**NEW DELHI** – Delhi High Court Justice Prathiba M. Singh has called for significant reforms to India’s sexual harassment laws, advocating for stronger protections for both men and women and faster case resolution. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Justice Singh highlighted the lengthy delays – often 10 to 15 years – plaguing cases under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act). These delays, she emphasized, create immense difficulties for all parties involved.

Justice Singh suggested several key changes. She stressed the need to expand the POSH Act to include provisions for sexual harassment against men and other genders, noting that the current focus solely on women is insufficient. She also proposed streamlining the internal complaint committee (ICC) process within companies, suggesting a reduction in the number of ICC members to facilitate quicker meetings and resolutions. A two-tiered complaint review system, she added, would allow for quicker dismissals of unfounded complaints at the company level while escalating substantiated cases for further investigation.

Justice Singh, a former leading intellectual property lawyer and the first Indian judge to be elected an Honorary Fellow of Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, further emphasized the importance of preventative measures. She believes that comprehensive employee training could significantly reduce the number of sexual harassment cases. The judge’s recommendations underscore a growing need for a more comprehensive and efficient legal framework to address workplace sexual harassment in India, ensuring timely justice for all genders.

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Fri Feb 14 16:24:52 UTC 2025: ## Delhi High Court Judge Calls for Stronger, Faster Sexual Harassment Laws

**New Delhi:** Delhi High Court Justice Prathiba M. Singh has advocated for stronger legal provisions to protect both men and women from sexual harassment, highlighting the significant delays in resolving such cases. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Justice Singh criticized the current Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), noting its exclusive focus on women and the lengthy processing times, often stretching 10-15 years.

Justice Singh emphasized the need to include provisions protecting men and other genders from sexual harassment. She also proposed several reforms to expedite the POSH Act process, including streamlining Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) by reducing the number of members to facilitate quicker meetings and decisions. She suggested a two-tiered complaint system, allowing for company-level resolution of unsubstantiated complaints, while escalating those with merit to higher authorities.

Justice Singh stressed that the current delays cause immense hardship for both complainants and respondents. She believes that mandatory training programs could significantly reduce the number of avoidable harassment incidents. Before her judicial appointment, Justice Singh was a prominent intellectual property lawyer.

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