An Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), also known as an Internal Committee (IC), is a mandatory body required under the PoSH Act, 2013 to prevent, prohibit, and redress complaints of sexual harassment at workplaces and educational institutions.

Key Requirements and Structure

Applicability:Mandatory for all public and private organizations, offices, and higher education institutions with 10 or more employees.
Presiding Officer: Must be a senior-level woman employee appointed from within the organization.
Internal Members: At least two members committed to women’s causes, having legal knowledge or social work experience.
External Member: An external individual from an NGO or an association committed to women’s causes or familiar with sexual harassment issues.
Female Majority: At least half of the total members must be women.

Core Functions and Procedure
Filing Complaints: Aggrieved individuals must submit a written complaint within 3 months of the incident (or 3 months from the last incident in a series). Complaints can also be registered digitally via the government’s SHe-Box Portal.

Inquiry Process: Conducts a fair, impartial, and confidential inquiry, giving both parties an opportunity to be heard and present evidence.
Timeline: Must complete the inquiry and submit its findings/recommendations to the employer or administration typically within 90 days.
Redressal: Recommends disciplinary action, warnings, or structural changes if the allegations are proven, or action against false/malicious complaints