POSH Annual Return Filing in Chhattisgarh: Ensure a Safe Workplace

Updated on October 14, 2025 05:27:40 PM

Under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, compliance is mandatory for all organizations employing 10 or more in Chhattisgarh. As part of compliance, the organizations have to submit an annual POSH return to the District Officer before January 31 every year. This return provides a report on how the organization keeps its workplace safe and respectful by detailing the number of complaints received for harassment cases, those resolved, those still pending, and training or awareness programs conducted to educate employees to keep the workplace free from harassment.

The annual return under POSH is more than a statutory compliance; it is a commitment to fostering a workplace where employees feel respected and valued. The prompt submission of such a return reflects the organization's commitment to upholding the principles of the POSH Act, thus creating an obligation and responsibility-related culture and ensuring a harassment-free work environment. This guide provides organizations with the key steps and insights to successfully file the POSH return in Chhattisgarh, thereby enabling compliance with the legal obligation and further strengthening the commitment towards the employees and the integrity of the workplace.

The return shall have such essential details as complaints received, actions taken, and any training or awareness initiative during the year. Non-compliance will attract heavy penalties of up to ₹50,000 and also the possibility of consequences to the business license in case of repeated default.

The annual POSH return can be tricky for someone new to such a return. For one end, one can pursue an easy way to understand it in a few simplified steps:

  Collect the Required Information   Compile the Report   Review and Ensure Accuracy   Track Status

The procedure for filing the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) annual return is fraught with problems an organization needs to overcome to achieve compliance smoothly.

• Lack of Awareness and Training: Many organizations are unaware of specific requirements for POSH annual returns, and members of their Internal Committees are often not trained in compliance processes.
• Inadequate Documentation: There is a need for inclusive documentation while submitting the annual return under the act. It must have a list of complaints received, actions taken, and training conducted throughout the year.
• Confidentiality and Sensitivity: To comply while maintaining confidentiality is a difficult balance because the POSH Act demands the privacy of the complainants and the respondents.
• Resource and Time Constraints: Many Internal Committees are constituted with limited resources and time due to the fact that POSH activities form an additional responsibility on top of the regular roles.
• Tracking Training and Awareness Initiatives: Reporting on training and awareness initiatives is another challenge that organizations face regularly as many of them do not have a centralized synergy to assist in tracking those activities.