Original statutory wording · G.S.R. 769(E)
Official Rule Text
In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Act” means the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (14 of 2013);
(b) “complaint” means the complaint made under section 9;
(c) “Complaints Committee” means the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be;
(d) “incident” means an incident of sexual harassment as defined in clause (n) of section 2;
(e) “section” means a section of the Act;
(f) “special educator” means a person trained in communication with people with special needs in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs;
(g) words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act.
Original Central Rules: G.S.R. 769(E), 9 December 2013. Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Source version: G.S.R. 769(E), dated 9 December 2013; Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3(i); English text, Gazette pages 4–6 (PDF pages 1–3 of the Ministry extract).
Ministry Gazette copy (PDF) · Government-hosted comparison copy (PDF)
Heading separators, line wrapping and indentation are adapted for screen reading. Source-printing anomalies are preserved and identified in separate PIH transcription notes; those notes are not part of the statutory text.
Official wording and PIH editorial explanation are separate layers. This reference provides general legal information; a particular employment relationship, complaint or inquiry may require qualified advice.
PIH editorial guidance · separate from statutory text
Plain-English Explanation
‘Act’ means the 2013 POSH Act, and a ‘section’ is a section of that Act. A reference to Section 7 therefore concerns the Act; it is not a reference to Rule 7.
A ‘complaint’ is the complaint made under Section 9. ‘Incident’ refers to sexual harassment as defined in Section 2(n). These definitions connect the Rules to particular statutory provisions rather than to every use of those words in ordinary conversation.
‘Complaints Committee’ means the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as the case may be. The applicable institution must be identified from the Act and the circumstances addressed by the provision; the expression does not create a third committee.
A ‘special educator’ is a person trained to communicate with people with special needs in a way that addresses their individual differences and needs. The term appears again in the specified complaint-filing arrangements under Rule 6.
Rule 2(g) carries across meanings given by the Act where the Rules do not separately define the expression. The opening words ‘unless the context otherwise requires’ remain part of the definition framework.
Practical Significance
Definitions tell readers which institution, complaint and legal provision a Rule concerns. They prevent a Rule number, an Act section and an everyday expression from being treated as interchangeable.
Scope, Conditions and Safeguards
- The relevant statutory definition and context take precedence over an informal glossary meaning.
- ‘Complaints Committee’ must be read as the applicable Internal Committee or Local Committee, not as a choice made by this publication.
Related POSH Act Provisions
- Act Section 2 — Section 2(n): the definition linked by the Rules’ ‘incident’ definition
- Act Section 9 — The complaint provision referred to by Rule 2
Related Rules
Professional Guidance
For a particular matter, seek qualified professional or official guidance. Do not submit complaint details or medical information through this reference.