The Bhanwari Devi case (1992) is the foundational event that eventually led to the enactment of the POSH Act in India.

POSH Judgements decode real court decisions under the POSH Act, 2013, highlighting what counts as harassment, how complaints are handled, and what fairness looks like helping everyone stay aware and contribute to a safer, more respectful workplace.The Bhanwari Devi case (1992) is the foundational event that eventually led to the enactment of the POSH Act in India. It exposed the complete lack of legal protection for women facing sexual violence or harassment in the course of their work.Bhanwari Devi was a "Saathin" (social worker) employed by the Government of Rajasthan under the Women’s Development Project. Her role involved educating villagers and campaigning against social issues like child marriage.The Cause: As part of her official duties, Bhanwari Devi attempted to stop the child marriage of a nine-month-old girl in the Gurjar community in Bhateri village.The Retaliation: Her intervention enraged local powerful families. In retaliation for her work, Bhanwari Devi was brutally gang-raped in front of her husband while they were working in their fields on September 22, 1992.The Systemic Failure: When she sought justice, the local police were dismissive, and the medical examination was delayed. In 1995, a trial court acquitted the accused, citing biased and illogical reasons (e.g., claiming that "upper-caste men would not rape a lower-caste woman" for reasons of "purity").Metis POSH Consulting helps organisations build safe, respectful workplaces through clear policies, practical training, legal advisory, audits, and culture-building content in every major Indian language. From employee sessions to IC support to communication campaigns, we make POSH simple, human, and effective.For Sales and collaboration: [email protected] us:Instagram: instagram.com/metisposhLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/metisposhX: @metisposhYouTube: youtube.com/@metisposhRadio: posh.metisindia.com/poshradioPhone: +91-95355 66588Website: www.posh.metisindia.com