Maharashtra to form women legislators’ panel to review workplace safety laws: CM Fadnavis

In a significant move to tackle emerging patterns of workplace harassment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced in the Legislative Council that the state government will form a joint legislative committee of women lawmakers from both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council to review existing laws and safety guidelines for corporate working environments, especially for women.

The panel will evaluate current legal frameworks, look into recent incidents, and recommend changes. The state government has pledged to implement these recommendations to secure safer workplaces for women.

The decision comes amid intense discussions sparked by Council Member Chitra Wagh, who raised serious allegations regarding the sexual and mental harassment of female employees in Nashik. Prominent legislators, including Neelam Gorhe and Manisha Kayande, also joined the debate.

Chief Minister Fadnavis shared key updates regarding the ongoing investigations. According to him, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has nearly completed its probe, leading to the registration of nine separate First Information Reports (FIRs) based on specific complaints. The manager who failed to take immediate action on the victim’s initial complaint has been formally named as an accused in the case.

The Chief Minister clarified that the allegations involve targeted harassment and coercion for religious conversion by individual employees. The SIT found no institutional involvement, and the company concerned has extended complete cooperation, committing to implement 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 stated, cautioning against generalising the actions of individual bad actors to the entire organisation.

CM Fadnavis also assured the House of quick action on other workplace safety complaints raised during the session. A complaint filed by legislator Manisha Kayande regarding grievances at a Government ITI in Solapur will be investigated immediately.

Furthermore, 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 take action against those found guilty.

The legislative push marks a critical turning point following the high-profile controversy that broke out in April and May 2026 in Nashik. The case gained 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 uncovered a “deeply toxic workplace culture.”

The NCW’s 50-page report highlighted severe non-compliance with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, functional failures in internal complaint mechanisms, and an atmosphere of intimidation. Victims alleged that a small group of senior employees utilised their professional authority to subject junior women recruits to stalking, behavioural intimidation, and systemic pressure to denigrate their own 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 upcoming legislative committee will directly examine how multinational operational guidelines can be legally tightened to prevent future localised systemic collapses.

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