Every POSH360 plan includes access to a qualified External IC Member — the legally mandated role that no software alone can fill.
Section 4(2)(c) of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 mandates that every Internal Complaints Committee must include at least one External Member. This isn't optional — it's a structural requirement without which the IC is constitutionally void.
The External Member must be either a person committed to the cause of women through involvement in an NGO or association, or a person familiar with labour, service, civil, or criminal law. This requirement exists specifically to ensure independence from the employer and impartiality in the inquiry process.
The consequences of non-compliance are severe. Without a valid External Member, the IC is not legally constituted. Any complaint handled by an incomplete IC is procedurally invalid. The company faces direct liability, criminal penalties under Section 26, and reputational exposure — with no valid inquiry record to rely on in any court or tribunal.
Despite this, the majority of SMEs either leave the External Member position vacant or appoint unqualified individuals without verifying statutory eligibility. POSH360 closes this gap by providing access to a pre-vetted, legally eligible network from day one.
"The Internal Committee shall consist of the following members to be nominated by the employer, namely:—Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
(c) not less than one Member from amongst non-governmental organisations or associations committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with the issues relating to sexual harassment..."
An IC constituted without a valid External Member is not a legally recognised IC under the Act. All proceedings conducted by such a committee are null and void. The employer is liable for penalties under Section 26, including fines up to ₹50,000 and cancellation of business licences.
Six reasons our External IC Member network is built differently from anything else in the market.
All members are independently verified against PoSH Act eligibility criteria before joining the network. We check NGO affiliations, legal qualifications, and labour law experience — not self-declarations.
Members are matched by industry, geography, and company size for maximum relevance. A tech startup in Bangalore gets a different match than a manufacturing unit in Pune — because context matters.
Network members carry their own professional liability, ensuring genuine independence in inquiries. They are not employees of POSH360 or your company — this is structurally required by law and how we operate.
When a complaint is filed, we activate your matched External Member within 48 hours. Your IC can be formally constituted and inquiry-ready before the statutory response deadline.
Beyond availability, our members actively facilitate the inquiry process — not just observe. They guide hearing procedures, advise on interim relief, and ensure the final report meets legal standards.
For multi-location companies or those with multiple ICs, we can manage separate External Member configurations across geographies — each matched to the local context.
A four-step process that moves from company profile to formally documented IC in days, not weeks.
You share your company profile — sector, location, employee count, existing IC members, and any specific requirements or sensitivities.
Our matching algorithm surfaces three compatible External Members from the network, ranked by sector relevance, geographic proximity, and availability.
You confirm your preferred match or request an alternative. No pressure — we want you confident in the person joining your IC before any documentation is finalised.
The match is formalised with full IC documentation: constitution notice, External Member consent letter, and formal appointment records — all generated and stored automatically.
Our External IC Member network spans India's major metros and tier-1 cities, with remote members available for organisations in smaller markets where in-person presence is either unavailable or not required under law.
+ Remote coverage for all other locations
Start with a free compliance audit. We'll tell you exactly where your IC stands, whether your External Member appointment is valid, and what it takes to close the gap.