Pune: Maharashtra BJP Minister Demands Probe into TCS Hinjawadi Over Namaz in Resting Rooms
Hinjawadi, 21st April 2026: A debate over workplace religious accommodations has surfaced at the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) campus in Hinjawadi, Pune. Madhuri Misal, Maharashtra Minister of State (Urban Development, Transport, Social Justice, Medical Education,
Minority Development & Aukaf) has directed the police to investigate complaints regarding the use of men’s resting rooms for offering namaz (Islamic prayers).
The directive highlights a complex intersection between state political interventions and the internal administrative policies of a private multinational corporation.
According to an official letter issued to the Pune City Police Commissioner (although Hinjawadi falls under the Pimpri Chinchwad Police) on Tuesday, April 21, Minister Misal stated that she had received multiple complaints alleging that a “specific group” was regularly using the men’s restrooms for religious rituals. The complaints claim that during these times, access is restricted for other employees, which the minister argued disrupts the equal utilization of workplace facilities and organizational discipline.
The minister’s letter calls for immediate “preventive measures and fact-checking.” Misal emphasized the need to verify whether the religious use of the shared space is infringing upon the rights of non-participating employees.
Furthermore, the police have been specifically instructed to conduct confidential and voluntary dialogues with female employees at the TCS campus. The authorities are tasked with determining if women in the workplace are experiencing any indirect pressure, harassment, or inconvenience as a result of the situation.
In her communication, Minister Misal acknowledged that the allegations of restricted access and harassment are currently unverified, making the police inquiry a necessary step to establish the facts.
Note: The TCS management is yet to issue an official public statement regarding the initiation of the probe or the specifics of the campus’s facility-sharing policies as of Tuesday.
