Women and Child Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, issued this circular on May 14, 2026, authorising officers and employees to conduct inspections of establishments under Section 25 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The circular is issued in the context of the large number of private, government, and semi-government establishments and corporations in Maharashtra, for which inspections of POSH compliance are required.

The following officers and employees are authorised to conduct inspections: District Officers (all); officers and employees at the level of the Commissionerate of Women and Child Development; Divisional Deputy Commissioners, Women and Child Development (all); District Women and Child Development Officers (all); District Programme Officers, Zilla Parishad (all); Child Development Project Officers (urban, rural, and tribal) (all); District Probation Officers; Probation Officers; District Nodal Officers, MAVIM (all); Protection Officers (district and taluka level) (all); Anganwadi Head Sevikas and Supervisors (all); and Superintendents appointed by the Government in government and voluntary organisations. The procedure for inspection, area division, and target-setting is to be determined by the State Nodal Officer and the Commissioner, Women and Child Development. Divisional Deputy Commissioners are to monitor inspections under the direction of the Commissioner. A POSH compliance checklist is annexed to the circular for use during inspections. Where deficiencies are found during inspection, penal action under Section 26 of the Act may be taken against the concerned establishments on the recommendation of the inspecting officer.