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Internal Committee Appointment Letter

This letter appoints a senior woman employee as Presiding Officer of the Internal Committee under the POSH Act, 2013. HR or management sends it to the individual before the committee notice is published, and she signs a copy to confirm she accepts the role and its duties.

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[Company Logo][Company Name]

APPOINTMENT AS PRESIDING OFFICER – INTERNAL COMMITTEE

Ref. No.:
[Reference Number]
Date:
[Date]

To,
[Employee Name]
[Designation], [Department]
Employee ID: [Employee ID]
[Work Location]

Subject: Appointment as Presiding Officer of the Internal Committee

Dear [Employee Name],

We are pleased to inform you that the management of [Company Name] has appointed you as the Presiding Officer of the Internal Committee constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, vide order no. [Reference Number] dated [Date]. This appointment recognises your seniority, integrity and the trust that colleagues place in you.

Your Responsibilities

  1. Chair meetings of the Internal Committee and ensure the required quorum is present.
  2. Receive complaints, guide complainants on the process and record them properly.
  3. Lead inquiries in line with principles of natural justice, giving both parties a fair hearing.
  4. Consider requests for conciliation where the complainant asks for it, without monetary settlement.
  5. Ensure the inquiry is completed within [Number] days or the period prescribed under current rules.
  6. Sign and submit the inquiry report and recommendations to the employer.
  7. Contribute to the annual report and awareness programmes.

Tenure and Support

Your appointment is for a period of [Number] years from [DD/MM/YYYY], unless the committee is reconstituted earlier. The company will provide you with training on the Act and inquiry procedure, reasonable time away from regular duties for committee work, and a secure place to hold meetings and store records. You will be protected from any form of retaliation for decisions taken in good faith as Presiding Officer.

Confidentiality

You are required to keep the identity of the parties and witnesses, the contents of complaints and inquiry proceedings, and the committee's recommendations strictly confidential, and to sign the committee confidentiality declaration.

Kindly sign the duplicate copy of this letter as a token of your acceptance and return it to [HR Name], HR Department, by [Date].

With regards,

For [Company Name]
[Authorised Signatory]
[Designation]
Accepted by
[Employee Name]
Signature: ____________
Date: [Date]

What this template includes

  • Clear statement of the Presiding Officer role so authority is not disputed in an inquiry
  • List of duties: chairing meetings, leading inquiries, signing the report
  • Tenure and conditions under which the appointment may end
  • Confidentiality obligation with reference to the Act
  • Training commitment so she is equipped to run inquiries
  • Assurance of time release and protection from retaliation
  • Acceptance section signed by the appointee

When to use it

  • Selecting a senior woman employee to lead a newly formed Internal Committee
  • Replacing a presiding officer who has resigned, retired or transferred
  • Renewing the presiding officer's tenure when the committee is reconstituted
  • Documenting the appointment for a client audit or POSH compliance review

How to customise this template

  1. 1Insert the appointee's name, designation, department and employee ID
  2. 2Mention the date of the committee constitution order this letter links to
  3. 3Adjust the duties to match your POSH policy wording
  4. 4State the training programme and date she will attend
  5. 5Print two copies; keep the signed acceptance in the POSH records file

HR tips

  • Speak to the appointee before issuing the letter; an unwilling presiding officer weakens the process
  • Choose someone senior enough that respondents cannot easily pressure her
  • Avoid appointing anyone who directly reports to likely respondents in senior management
  • Allocate work-hours for committee work in her KRAs so it is not seen as extra burden

This appointment letter follows the general scheme of the POSH Act, 2013; confirm current requirements on eligibility and tenure in the Act and rules, and have your legal adviser review it.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can be the presiding officer of the Internal Committee?+

The Act requires the presiding officer to be a woman employed at a senior level in the workplace. If none is available, the Act allows nomination from other offices or units of the same employer; check the current provisions.

Is the presiding officer paid extra?+

There is no general requirement to pay an internal presiding officer extra. Some companies recognise the role through KRAs, allowances or certificates; this is a company policy decision.

Can the presiding officer refuse the appointment?+

Yes, the role should be accepted willingly. The letter includes an acceptance section so that consent is recorded before the committee notice is published.