After Nashik IT Row, Labour Dept to Inspect Women Safety Norms in Pune Firms

Pune, 13th April 2026: In the wake of alleged harassment of women employees at the Nashik office of a leading IT company, the labour commissionerate has initiated a special inspection drive to examine compliance with workplace safety norms across companies in Pune.

Officials said the drive will focus on verifying whether organisations have constituted Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) as mandated, while also reviewing complaints received by these panels and the action taken on them.

The move comes amid growing concern over the safety of women employees. The authorities have indicated that several firms may not have set up the required mechanisms to address harassment.

Deputy labour commissioner Nikhil Walke said inspections will be carried out at company offices in Pune to check for the presence of ICCs. Authorities will also examine records of complaints and assess the action taken by these committees. Legal action will be initiated against companies found violating the provisions of the law, he said.

Officials said the exercise aims to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the wake of the Nashik case.

The Nashik case involves allegations against co-workers for molestation, sexual and mental harassment of women employees, hurting religious sentiments, and attempts at religious conversion. A detailed probe, launched after complaints of sexual exploitation, has revealed several disturbing allegations, including inappropriate physical contact, sexually suggestive behaviour, intrusive remarks about victims’ personal and marital lives, comments about childlessness, coercion to consume non-vegetarian food, and obscene remarks about their bodies.

There are also allegations of an attempt to force a male employee into religious conversion. So far, nine FIRs have been registered in connection with the case.

Under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, it is mandatory for all organisations employing 10 or more persons to constitute an ICC. As per Section 19, the responsibility lies with the head of the office. Failure to comply with these provisions or any violation of the Act can attract a penalty of up to Rs 50,000 under Section 26.