At a recent event, Supreme Court Justice N. Kotiswar Singh spoke openly about a reality many have been quietly suffering from — the misuse of the PoSH Act, a law meant to protect women from sexual harassment at work.
He said clearly:
“There is a possibility, and it has happened. Making false allegations is equally dangerous. It compromises the system.”
This law, made to ensure safety, is now being misused by some to harm others. And the ones who suffer most often? Innocent men.
New Complaint Portal: Easy to File, Easy to Misuse
The Delhi High Court launched a new digital portal to help women file workplace harassment complaints online. It’s meant to be simple, private, and accessible — a step in the right direction for real victims.
But when filing a complaint becomes this easy, there’s also more room for misuse. We’ve seen how simple misunderstandings, workplace grudges, or even rejected advances get turned into serious legal accusations — and it’s the accused who suffers instantly.
Even Judges Admit: Not Every Harassment Case is Real
Justice Prathiba M Singh of Delhi High Court said clearly that many complaints are filed based on confusion, ego clashes, or personal motives — not real harassment.
“Some complaints are genuine and some are not. There could be other reasons too.”
This admission confirms what many men have experienced firsthand: the system doesn’t always filter genuine cases from false ones at the start — but the damage begins immediately.
Stop Turning Internal Complaints Into Courtroom Dramas
Justice Kotiswar Singh also pointed out that the Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) are meant for resolution — not punishment.
“If you handle it like a trial, it’s going to hurt both sides.”
But in reality, once a man is named in a complaint, he’s treated like a criminal. Suspension, social isolation, mental stress — all begin before anything is proven.
What About the Innocent Men? Where Is Their Voice?
Everyone supports the complainant — and rightly so. But when someone is falsely accused, their entire life can fall apart, and no one wants to hear their side.
Why is it that:
- The accused is punished before trial?
- Even if proven innocent, they remain socially branded?
- There is no support system for them?
Empathy must work for both sides.
Behind Every False Case is a Ruined Life
We’ve seen real stories:
- An employee files a complaint after poor feedback
- A joke becomes a legal issue
- A professional disagreement turns personal
These aren’t harassment cases — but they’re treated like one. And in each, the accused man pays a heavy price.
Finally, the System Begins to Wake Up
To improve the process, courts have started acting:
- Training staff on proper conduct
- Strengthening evidence rules
- Drafting clear ICC guidelines
- Recognizing men and others as potential victims too
These are long-overdue changes — but they need to move faster, and be stronger.
Justice Isn’t Just for One Side
The PoSH law must protect real victims — but it should never be used to punish the innocent. Every false complaint takes away credibility from the real ones, and leaves the falsely accused scarred forever.
We must aim for justice — not revenge.
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