MUMBAI: Fadnavis Announces Women Legislators’ Panel On Workplace Harassment Laws

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the move was prompted by concerns over the implementation of existing safeguards and recent cases of alleged harassment. He informed the Legislative Council that multiple cases had been registered in connection with an incident at the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) office in Nashik and that the employee’s manager had also been named as an accused.

During Question Hour in the Legislative Council, BJP MLC Chitra Wagh raised the issue of an alleged case of sexual harassment and attempted religious conversion involving a female employee at the TCS office in Nashik. She alleged that Hindu women were being targeted and sought details of the action taken in the case, including whether provisions related to extortion would be invoked.

Responding to the questions, Mr. Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, described the Nashik incident as “eye-opening”. “A group of people belonging to a particular religion allegedly sexually harassed the woman and pressured her to convert. Unfortunately, the company's manager did not act on her complaint. We have registered nine FIRs in the case and have made the manager an accused,” he said.

The Chief Minister clarified that TCS had fully cooperated with the investigation and that there was no involvement of the company in the matter.

Mr. Fadnavis further told the House that a particular modus operandi was allegedly being employed in some corporate workplaces to facilitate religious conversion. While Maharashtra has laws to address sexual harassment and unlawful religious conversion, their implementation remains inadequate, he said.

“To deal with such modus operandi, there are multiple laws which are not being used effectively,” the CM said.

Announcing the formation of the committee, Mr. Fadnavis said women legislators from both Houses would study existing laws and regulations and recommend necessary changes. The committee will examine existing legal provisions as well as past incidents related to sexual harassment and alleged religious conversion, and submit recommendations to the government. “The state government will certainly implement the measures suggested by the committee,” Mr. Fadnavis added.

During the discussion, Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande raised the issue of an alleged attempt to convert 150 girls at a government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Solapur. She also demanded action against those responsible in a case involving the alleged sexual harassment of a female employee at a Spanish company in Talegaon Dabhade in Pune district.

In response, Mr. Fadnavis said the Solapur ITI matter would be investigated immediately and action would be taken against those found responsible. He also announced a senior-level inquiry into the Talegaon Dabhade case. The investigation, he said, would be completed within 15 days, following which appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty.