Definitions under the Act
(a) Aggrieved Woman
(i) In relation to a workplace, a woman of any age, whether employed or not, who alleges to have been subjected to any act of sexual harassment by the respondent. (ii) In relation to a dwelling place or house, a woman of any age who is employed in such a dwelling place or house.
(b) Appropriate Government
(i) In relation to a workplace established, owned, controlled, or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly:
(A) By the Central Government or the Union territory administration, the Central Government.
(B) By the State Government, the State Government. (ii) In relation to any other workplace not covered under sub-clause (i) and falling within its territory, the State Government.
(c) Chairperson
The Chairperson of the Local Complaints Committee nominated under subsection (1) of Section 7.
(d) District Officer
An officer notified under Section 5.
(e) Domestic Worker
A woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration, whether in cash or kind, either directly or through any agency, on a temporary, permanent, part-time, or full-time basis. This does not include any member of the employer's family.
(f) Employee
A person employed at a workplace for any work on a regular, temporary, ad hoc, or daily wage basis, either directly or through an agent, including a contractor, with or without the knowledge of the principal employer, whether for remuneration or not, or working on a voluntary basis or otherwise. It includes a co-worker, contract worker, probationer, trainee, apprentice, or anyone called by another such name.
(g) Employer
(i) In relation to any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch, or unit of the appropriate Government or a local authority, the head of that entity or such other officer as specified by the appropriate Government or local authority. (ii) In any other workplace not covered under sub-clause (i), any person responsible for the management, supervision, and control of the workplace. (iii) In relation to workplaces covered under sub-clauses (i) and (ii), the person discharging contractual obligations with respect to employees. (iv) In relation to a dwelling place or house, a person or household employing or benefiting from the employment of a domestic worker, irrespective of the number, time period, type of worker employed, or nature of employment.
(h) Internal Committee
An Internal Complaints Committee constituted under Section 4.
(i) Local Committee
A Local Complaints Committee constituted under Section 6.
(j) Member
A Member of the Internal Committee or the Local Committee, as applicable.
(k) Prescribed
Prescribed by rules made under this Act.
(l) Presiding Officer
The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee nominated under subsection (2) of Section 4.
(m) Respondent
A person against whom the aggrieved woman has made a complaint under Section 9.
(n) Sexual Harassment
Includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviors (whether directly or by implication): (i) Physical contact and advances. (ii) A demand or request for sexual favors. (iii) Making sexually colored remarks. (iv) Showing pornography. (v) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
(o) Workplace
Includes: (i) Any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch, or unit established, owned, controlled, or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government, local authority, Government company, corporation, or cooperative society. (ii) Any private sector organisation or venture engaged in commercial, professional, vocational, educational, entertainment, industrial, health services, or financial activities, including production, supply, sale, distribution, or service. (iii) Hospitals or nursing homes. (iv) Sports institutes, stadiums, sports complexes, competition venues, or games venues, whether residential or not, used for training, sports, or other activities. (v) Any place visited by an employee arising out of or during the course of employment, including transportation provided by the employer. (vi) A dwelling place or a house.
(p) Unorganised Sector
In relation to a workplace, it refers to an enterprise owned by individuals or self-employed workers engaged in the production or sale of goods or provision of services of any kind, where the number of employed workers is less than ten.