Harish Dhandharia v. Ahmedabad Stamp Vendors Association: Extending the POSH Act's Reach Beyond Employees.
In a landmark ruling that reinforced the Protection of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act's commitment to creating safe and secure workplaces, the Supreme Court of India delivered a groundbreaking judgment in the case of Harish Dhandharia v. Chairman, Ahmedabad Stamp Vendors Association (2019). This decision expanded the scope of the POSH Act , ensuring that its provisions apply not only to employees but also to any third party or outsider who enters the workplace premises, including customers, clients, or visitors. The Background of the Case The case arose from a petition filed by Harish Dhandharia, a stamp vendor and member of the Ahmedabad Stamp Vendors Association. Dhandharia alleged that he had been subjected to sexual harassment by the association's chairman during a meeting held at the association's premises. However, when he approached the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted by the association, his complaint was dismissed on the grounds that he was not an empl