Sexual Harassment & POSH Investigations

This book presents a deeply researched, multidisciplinary, and practical guide to understanding, investigating, and addressing sexual harassment under the POSH Act, 2013. Blending legal analysis with behavioural science, real-world case studies, digital forensics, interviewing techniques, and governance frameworks, the work offers an expansive perspective on how organisations, investigators, POSH committees, and professionals can navigate sensitive allegations with objectivity, fairness, and procedural integrity. The narrative bridges law, psychology, organisational culture, and contemporary social movements, making it a holistic reference for POSH investigations.

Key Features

• Rich case studies spanning workplace behaviour, harassment patterns, biases, and cultural evolution.
• Detailed guidance on interviewing, interrogation styles, behavioural assessment, digital evidence, and investigation protocols.
• Insights into victimology, offender profiling, cognitive distortions, and psychological frameworks.
• Complete POSH governance architecture including policies, committees, procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Full text and analysis of the POSH Act and Rules, along with interpretive notes.
• Integration of legal principles with modern investigative approaches, including behavioural science and restorative justice.
• Structured divisions for easy navigation: cultural foundations, investigations, governance, and statutory law.

This book is designed for ICC/LC Committee members, HR professionals, POSH trainers, legal practitioners, psychologists, corporate leaders, compliance officers, and investigators involved in workplace harassment matters.

DIVISION I — Introduction & Case Studies

1. Cultural Shifts: From Epic Boundaries to Hashtags

2. Workplace Wonderland: The Era of Butt-Slapping and Panty-Free Days

3. Monica, O’ My Darling To #MeToo: The Bubble Burst

4. #TheGirlInTheBlueBra: The Viral Hashtag and the Egyptian Revolution

5. “A little bit Nutty & A little bit Slutty”

6. “The Greatest Battle Lies Within ...”

7. Lolita Express: A Candy-Coated Lollipop of Exploitation

8. Loin Cloth Journey to Palace & Campus

9. Jaws & Claws… Predator & Prey!

10. Enclosures & Blockers – Culture of Secretive Legal Practices

11. Purr and Roar!! .. no NNNOOOO!!

12. Bole Chudiyaan (He-Said), Bole Cangana (She-Said): Investigating Allegations through Digital Forensics

13. Ahilya & the Philosopher’s Stone: Justice, Bias, and Transformation

14. Mental Harassment Claims — Procedural Aspects

15. Breads & Circuses and the Boob-er Playbook: Allegations, Narratives and Corporate Response

16. “Oops! I’m Wrrrr(ong) . . . Sorry/Not Sorry” — Apologies, Accountability, and Restorative Justice

17. Rush Hush: Behavioral Science in Bias-Free Investigations

DIVISION II — Investigation

18. Baatein Ankahi Si: Investigation Procedures & Case Studies in Sexual Assault and Homicide

19. “Do Men Ever Stop Before It?” – Behavior-Oriented Interviewing in a Workplace Sexual Assault Case

20. Victimology: Ganga to Gangubai Kathiawadi

21. Tu Hain Meri Baby Doll: Offender Profiling & Cognitive Distortions

22. Mastering Chanakya Niti: Psychological Aspects of Suspect Interviews

23. The Reid Technique of Interview and Interrogation

DIVISION III — POSH Governance Framework

24. POSH Governance Framework — Policy, Procedure & Committee Protocols

DIVISION IV — The Laws

25. The Laws

26. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

27. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013

References / Works Cited
Epilogue