Morung Express News
Kohima | February 22
The Nagaland Government has notified a Secretariat-Level Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, amid continuing scrutiny by the Supreme Court over the implementation of the Act across States and Union Territories.
A notification issued by the Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) Department on February 18, in partial modification of its earlier notification dated April 14, 2025, constituted the ICC under the provisions of Chapters II and III of the Act.
The Committee will be chaired by Sotsula, Commissioner & Secretary, Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Members include Bodeno S Colo, Commissioner & Secretary, Art & Culture; Kusa Fithu, Additional Secretary, Information & Public Relations; Athrila S Sangtam, Additional Secretary, Transport; and Vilanuo Angela Yhome, President of the Naga Mothers Association.
Lithriia Sangtam, Under Secretary, P&AR (Personnel ‘A’), will serve as Member Secretary.
According to the notification, the Committee’s terms of reference include receiving complaints, facilitating conciliation where appropriate, and conducting inquiries in accordance with Chapters IV and V of the Act.
The development comes against the backdrop of the continued nationwide review of PoSH compliance before the Supreme Court.
As reported earlier, data placed before the Court by the Amicus Curiae on January 6 indicated gaps in the constitution of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), appointment of District Officers and Nodal Officers, and the conduct of surveys across public and private establishments for ensuring an effective reporting mechanism under the Act across the country.
In Nagaland, only 31 out of 63 departments (49%) in the State Secretariat had constituted and notified ICCs, while over 50% remained non-compliant, according to the status report. The report further noted limited district-level coverage, with surveys conducted in only three of the State’s 17 districts as of May 13, 2025. In the districts assessed, ICCs were constituted in 34 of 128 institutions.
The apex court subsequently issued directions to States and Union Territories to ensure full compliance and to file affidavits detailing steps taken.
When the matter was heard again on February 10, the Court was informed that most States and UTs had filed their affidavits of compliance with the January 6 directions. Nagaland was not among the States listed as having defaulted in filing affidavits, indicating that it has submitted its compliance report.
The Supreme Court granted four weeks’ time to the remaining defaulting States and UTs to file their affidavits and listed the matter for further hearing on March 17, 2026.
