POSH Rules, 2013 · Rule 14

POSH Rules, 2013: what the annual report must contain

Rule 14 of the POSH Rules, 2013 lists five details for the committee’s annual report under section 21: complaints received in the year, complaints disposed of, cases pending for more than ninety days, workshops or awareness programmes held, and the nature of action taken by the employer or District Officer. The Rules were notified on 9 December 2013 as G.S.R. 769(E).

Written by Manas Editorial Team · Last updated 20 October 2026 · Checked against the official text

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The official text

What does Rule 14 say?

Rule 14 and the rules it relies on, word for word from the Gazette of India, as printed. “Disposed off” is the Gazette’s spelling.

Notification, Rule 1 and Rule 2(c)

G.S.R. 769(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by section 29 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (14 of 2013), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:—

1. Short title and commencement. – (1) These rules may be called the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions. – In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,- […]

Source: Gazette of India, G.S.R. 769(E) ↗, Gazette page 4 (PDF page 18)

Rule 14

14. Preparation of annual report.- The annual report which the Complaints Committee shall prepare under Section 21, shall have the following details:-

(a) number of complaints of sexual harassment received in the year;

(b) number of complaints disposed off during the year;

(d) number of workshops or awareness programme against sexual harassment carried out;

(e) nature of action taken by the employer or District Officer.

Source: Gazette of India, G.S.R. 769(E) ↗, Gazette page 6 (PDF page 20)

Rule 13 (the workshops counted in Rule 14(d))

13. Manner to organise workshops, etc.– Subject to the provisions of section 19, every employer shall-

(a) formulate and widely disseminate an internal policy or charter or resolution or declaration for prohibition, prevention and redressal of sexual harassment at the workplace intended to promote gender sensitive safe spaces and remove underlying factors that contribute towards a hostile work environment against women;

(b) carry out orientation programmes and seminars for the Members of the Internal Committee;

(c) carry out employees awareness programmes and create forum for dialogues which may involve Panchayati Raj Institutions, Gram Sabha, women’s groups, mothers’ committee, adolescent groups, urban local bodies and any other body as may be considered necessary;

(d) conduct capacity building and skill building programmes for the Members of the Internal Committee;

(e) declare the names and contact details of all the Members of the Internal Committee;

(f) use modules developed by the State Governments to conduct workshops and awareness programmes for sensitising the employees with the provisions of the Act.

Source: Gazette of India, G.S.R. 769(E) ↗, Gazette page 6 (PDF page 20)

In plain words

What does each of the five details mean?

The “Complaints Committee” in Rule 14 means the Internal Committee or the Local Committee (Rule 2(c)). Each one reports for itself, once a calendar year, under section 21.

(a) Complaints received. Every written complaint the committee got in the year.
(b) Complaints disposed of. Those closed in the year, for example by a settlement under section 10 or an inquiry report under section 13.
(c) Cases pending over ninety days. Those still open after 90 days. Section 11(4) gives an inquiry 90 days, so this shows delays.
(d) Workshops and awareness programmes. The number held. Rule 13 lists the kinds: awareness for staff and orientation for the committee.
(e) Action taken. What the employer or District Officer did on the committee’s findings.

Rule 14 lists details, not a form, and gives no date. Some figures also go into a company’s Board’s Report. See the Board’s Report rule of 2025.

Employer checklist

How do you prepare a Rule 14 report?

Keep one complaint register per committee, with the date each complaint was received.
Record how and when each complaint closed: settlement under section 10 or an inquiry report under section 13.
Flag any case still open after 90 days.
Log every workshop, awareness session and committee orientation with its date (Rule 13).
Record the action the employer took on each recommendation, and when.
Count the year from January to December, and keep a copy of the report as filed.
Declare the names and contact details of all committee members (Rule 13(e)).

The numbers

Which numbers does Rule 14 ask for?

Rule 14 of the POSH Rules, 2013 (G.S.R. 769(E)), checked 20 October 2026.
Details required	5, items (a) to (e)Rule 14
Pending threshold	More than 90 daysRule 14(c); the inquiry limit is 90 days under section 11(4)
Reporting period	“the year”: each calendar yearRule 14(a), (b) read with section 21(1)
Rules notified	9 December 2013, G.S.R. 769(E)Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Sec. 3(i)
Rules in total	14 rulesRules 1 to 14; Rule 14 is the last
Shared with the Board’s Report	3 of the 5 details: (a), (b) and (c)Rule 8(5)(x) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, as amended in 2025, for the financial year

Court rulings

Have courts ruled on Rule 14?

We have not found a reported ruling that interprets Rule 14 (checked 20 October 2026).

Aureliano Fernandes v. State of Goa (2023)

The Supreme Court directed employers to “regularly conduct orientation programmes, workshops, seminars and awareness programmes” (paragraph 77(v)). Those sessions are what Rule 14(d) counts. (Judgment of 12 May 2023 ↗)

Questions

Which questions do people ask about Rule 14?

Which rule says what goes into the POSH annual report?

Rule 14 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013, notified as G.S.R. 769(E) on 9 December 2013.

Is there an official format for the annual report?

No form is attached to the 2013 Rules. Rule 14 lists five details the report must have. Your State Government or District Officer may ask for a format, so check locally.

From when do the ninety days in Rule 14(c) run?

Neither Rule 14 nor section 11(4) states the start date. Counting from the day the complaint was received gives the more cautious figure.

What counts as a workshop or awareness programme?

Rule 13 lists them: awareness programmes for employees, orientation and seminars for committee members, and capacity and skill building for the committee.

Are the Rule 14 figures the same as the Board’s Report figures?

Three overlap: received, disposed of and pending over ninety days. But the Board’s Report uses the financial year and the Rule 14 report the calendar year, so the numbers can differ.

How Manas helps

How does Manas fill in the Rule 14 details?

Our portal records each complaint, its closing and the action taken, and logs the training sessions, so the five Rule 14 details come straight from the committee’s own records. Dr. Priya Dubey Sharma, Founder & Consulting Psychologist, serves as the external member on client committees. See how it works on our POSH compliance page, or run the free 2-minute committee check. For more answers, read the POSH FAQ.

Sources

Where does this page come from?

Last checked against these sources on 20 October 2026. The Act’s text is reproduced with our commentary (Copyright Act, 1957, s.52(1)(q)(ii)); Gazette rules and court judgments under s.52(1)(q)(i) and (iv). General information, not legal advice. Manas is not a law firm.

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