In a significant step towards fostering safer work environments for women, the Ministry of Women and Child Development recently launched an upgraded version of the Sexual Harassment Electronic Box or as is commonly known, the SHe-Box portal.

This centralized platform is designed to streamline the complaint registration process for workplace-related sexual harassment cases under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (“PoSH Act”), ensuring faster resolutions and reduced bureaucratic delays.

Key Features of the SHe-Box Portal

The SHe-Box portal offers several benefits:

• Direct Complaint Submission: Complainants can directly submit their cases to the concerned Internal Committee (“IC”) or Local Committee (“LC”) on the portal, minimizing human interference and delays.

• Centralized Repository: The portal serves as a comprehensive database for ICs and LCs across government and private sectors, ensuring transparency in the complaint resolution process.
• Wide Accessibility: Accessible to women in all sectors, including unorganized and domestic workplaces, the portal democratizes workplace safety measures.
• Awareness Resources: The portal includes handbooks, training modules, and videos on the PoSH Act in both Hindi and English, providing free educational materials to users.

Points to Note for Employers

• She-Box doesn’t replace your company’s IC. Rather, it provides an additional channel for employees to report issues, strengthening the overall approach to handling workplace sexual harassment.
• Employers are required to upload the details of the organization’s IC on the portal for such complaints to be directed to the IC.
• Registration of workplace on the portal has not been mandated till now for all organisations. However, the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (“NSE”) vide Circular No. 116/2024 dated December 27, 2024, has now made it mandatory for all Trading Members to register themselves on the SHe-Box (Sexual Harassment electronic Box) Portal set up under the PoSH Act.
• This Circular has been issued in furtherance of a judgement rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Aureliano Fernandes Vs State of Goa & Ors., 2023. A very significant directions has been issued by the Supreme Court in this landmark judgement mandating all entities employing 10 or more than 10 individuals to mandatorily ensure that information regarding their Nodal Officers and Internal Committees (“IC”) is uploaded on the SHe-Box as per the provisions of PoSH Act.
• It is anticipated that it may become mandatory for all organisations to upload their IC details on the SHe-Box Portal soon.

How to File a Complaint on the SHe-Box Portal

Filing a complaint on the SHe-Box portal is simple and efficient if the IC details have been uploaded on the portal. Except the Chairperson of the IC/ LC, no other person will be able to see the details or nature of the complaint so registered.

In cases where the concerned IC is not yet registered on the portal, an online process is available to collect the workplace details from the complainant.

This information will then be forwarded to the State Nodal Officer and the District Nodal Officer of the respective State or Union Territory and district to facilitate prompt registration of the IC.

The steps to file a complaint are as follows:

1. Visit the Portal: Click on the ‘Register Your Complaint’ tab.
2. Select Your Category: Choose whether you are a government or private-sector employee. If you are a government employee, select your specific category:
   • Central Government
   • State Government
3. Complete the Form: Fill out all required fields in the registration form.
4. Email Confirmation: A confirmation message will be sent to your registered email.
5. Activate Your Account: Click the link in the email to confirm your account and generate a password.
6. Track Complaint Status: Use your email ID and generated password to monitor the progress of your complaint.

If a complaint is filed by someone on behalf of the complainant, they must log in using their own details, specify their relationship with the complainant, and provide an undertaking from the complainant. Additionally, the complainant’s name, work status, phone number, and email must be included in the same.

How SHLC Can Help

For any organization, aligning with the PoSH Act and leveraging tools like SHe-Box isn’t just a legal necessity; it’s a moral responsibility. At SHLC, we’re here to make this transition seamless and effective.

To learn more, please visit our website at https://shlc.in/ or contact us via email at contact@shlc.in.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, the law is constantly evolving. This blog post does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship and should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional legal advice. For specific PoSH-related questions and concerns, please consult with a qualified lawyer or PoSH expert.