Maharashtra to form women lawmakers panel on workplace harassment: CM Fadnavis
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced a joint legislative committee of women lawmakers to overhaul corporate workplace safety laws — a direct response to the Nashik harassment case that produced a 1,500-page SIT chargesheet, 9 FIRs, and a scathing NCW report flagging POSH Act violations at a leading IT firm.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announced a joint women lawmakers committee on 24 June to review workplace harassment laws in the Legislative Council .
The SIT has nearly completed its probe, registering 9 FIRs ; the manager who ignored the initial complaint has been named an accused.
The NCW's 50-page report flagged severe POSH Act non-compliance and a 'deeply toxic workplace culture' at the Nashik facility.
A 1,500-page chargesheet has been filed against accused including Danish Ejaj Sheikh , Tausif Bilal Attar , and Nida Ejaj Khan .
A high-level inquiry into a foreign multinational in Talegaon Dabhade, Pune has been ordered with a 15-day deadline .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, 24 June announced in the Legislative Council that the state government will constitute a joint legislative committee comprising women members from both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to review existing laws and safety protocols governing corporate workplaces, with a specific focus on the protection of women employees.
What the Committee Will Do
The proposed panel will assess current legal frameworks, examine recent incidents of workplace misconduct, and submit recommendations for legislative and policy changes. The state government has committed to implementing those recommendations to ensure safer working environments for women across Maharashtra's corporate sector.
The announcement follows an intense debate in the House triggered by Council Member Chitra Wagh, who raised serious allegations of sexual and mental harassment of female employees in Nashik. Prominent legislators including Neelam Gorhe and Manisha Kayande also participated in the discussion.
SIT Findings and FIRs
Chief Minister Fadnavis updated the House on the status of ongoing investigations. According to him, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has nearly concluded its probe, resulting in the registration of nine separate First Information Reports (FIRs) based on individual complaints. The manager who failed to act on the victim's initial complaint has been formally named as an accused in the case.
Fadnavis clarified that the allegations involve targeted harassment and alleged coercion for religious conversion by individual employees. The SIT found no institutional involvement by the company, which has reportedly extended full cooperation and committed to implementing any safety protocols mandated by the state.
'It would be unfair to question the credibility of a leading Indian IT company based on an isolated incident. The corporate sector has put India on the global map and is a primary driver of employment generation,' CM Fadnavis said, cautioning against attributing the conduct of individual bad actors to the entire organisation.
Other Workplace Complaints Taken Up
The Chief Minister also assured the House of prompt action on additional workplace safety complaints raised during the session. A complaint filed by legislator Manisha Kayande concerning grievances at a Government ITI in Solapur is to be investigated immediately.
Separately, a high-level inquiry has been ordered into a complaint against a foreign multinational operating out of Talegaon Dabhade near Pune, with a strict 15-day deadline to act against those found guilty.
Background: The Nashik Controversy
The legislative push comes in the wake of a high-profile controversy that erupted in April and May 2026 in Nashik. The case drew national attention after a Fact-Finding Committee from the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by retired Bombay High Court Judge Justice Sadhna Jadhav, visited the site and documented what it described as a 'deeply toxic workplace culture.'
The NCW's 50-page report flagged severe non-compliance with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, dysfunction in internal complaint mechanisms, and a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation. Victims alleged that a small group of senior employees used their professional authority to subject junior women recruits to stalking, behavioural intimidation, and systemic pressure to abandon their faiths and convert.
The Nashik Police's 12-member SIT has since filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against several key accused, including team leaders Danish Ejaj Sheikh, Tausif Bilal Attar, and HR executive Nida Ejaj Khan. The forthcoming legislative committee is expected to directly examine how multinational operational guidelines can be legally strengthened to prevent similar systemic failures in the future.
Point of View
But the real test is whether it produces enforceable changes to POSH Act compliance rather than another review that gathers dust. The Nashik case exposed a gap that already-existing law should have closed: internal complaint committees that are either non-functional or captured by management. A new committee recommending what existing law already mandates would be a missed opportunity. Maharashtra's corporate sector — particularly its IT corridor — needs binding audit mechanisms with teeth, not fresh guidelines. The 15-day deadline on the Talegaon Dabhade inquiry is worth watching; it will signal whether this legislative energy translates into institutional accountability or stops at the press statement.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the joint women lawmakers committee announced by Maharashtra CM Fadnavis?
It is a joint legislative committee comprising women members from both the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, announced on 24 June by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The panel will review existing workplace harassment laws and safety protocols for corporate environments and submit recommendations for reform.
What triggered this legislative action in Maharashtra?
The move follows a high-profile harassment controversy at a Nashik IT firm that came to light in April and May 2026. A National Commission for Women fact-finding report documented severe POSH Act non-compliance and a toxic workplace culture, prompting SIT investigations and intense debate in the Legislative Council.
What has the SIT found so far in the Nashik case?
The 12-member Nashik Police SIT has nearly completed its probe and has registered 9 FIRs based on individual complaints. It has filed a 1,500-page chargesheet against accused including Danish Ejaj Sheikh, Tausif Bilal Attar, and Nida Ejaj Khan. The SIT found no institutional involvement by the company itself.
Who are the key accused named in the Nashik harassment chargesheet?
The chargesheet names team leaders Danish Ejaj Sheikh and Tausif Bilal Attar, and HR executive Nida Ejaj Khan, among others. The manager who failed to act on the victim's initial complaint has also been formally named as an accused.
What other workplace complaints did CM Fadnavis address in the Legislative Council?
Fadnavis assured prompt action on a complaint by legislator Manisha Kayande about a Government ITI in Solapur, and ordered a high-level inquiry into a foreign multinational in Talegaon Dabhade near Pune, with a 15-day deadline to act against those found guilty.
