This is Set 8 of 40 in the smartvidya question bank on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and Rules, with the latest judgments. Part III: Complaint, conciliation and inquiry. This set covers Writing, time limit, extension, assistance and complaints by others on behalf of the aggrieved woman.
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Set 8: Section 9: Making a Complaint
1. A complaint of sexual harassment must be made
(a) orally only
(b) through the police only
(c) in writing
(d) through a lawyer only
Ans. (c) in writing — Explanation: Section 9(1) requires a written complaint; if she cannot write, the committee members must assist her. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
2. The time limit for making a complaint is
(a) within six months
(b) within one year
(c) within one month
(d) within three months from the date of the incident
Ans. (d) within three months from the date of the incident — Explanation: Section 9(1) sets three months from the date of the incident. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
3. In the case of a series of incidents, the three months are counted from
(a) the date of the first incident
(b) the date of joining
(c) the date of the last incident
(d) the date the employer is informed
Ans. (c) the date of the last incident — Explanation: Section 9(1) counts from the last incident in a series. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
4. The Committee may extend the time limit for a complaint by a further period not exceeding
(a) three months
(b) one month
(c) one year
(d) six months
Ans. (a) three months — Explanation: The second proviso to Section 9(1) allows extension of up to three months. [Ref: Section 9(1), second proviso]
5. The Committee may extend the time limit if it is satisfied that
(a) the woman pays a fee
(b) the respondent agrees
(c) circumstances prevented the woman from filing within time, recording reasons in writing
(d) the employer approves
Ans. (c) circumstances prevented the woman from filing within time, recording reasons in writing — Explanation: The second proviso to Section 9(1) requires reasons in writing and satisfaction that circumstances prevented timely filing. [Ref: Section 9(1), second proviso]
6. The maximum total time within which a complaint can be made, including extension, is
(a) no limit
(b) six months from the incident or the last incident
(c) three months
(d) one year
Ans. (b) six months from the incident or the last incident — Explanation: Three months plus a further extension not exceeding three months gives six months at most. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
7. Where the aggrieved woman cannot make a written complaint, reasonable assistance must be given by
(a) the employer's lawyer
(b) the police
(c) the respondent
(d) the Presiding Officer, Chairperson or any member of the Committee
Ans. (d) the Presiding Officer, Chairperson or any member of the Committee — Explanation: The first proviso to Section 9(1) requires the Presiding Officer, Chairperson or any member to assist her. [Ref: Section 9(1), first proviso]
8. Where the aggrieved woman is unable to make a complaint because of physical or mental incapacity or death, the complaint may be made by
(a) the respondent's employer only
(b) her legal heir or such other person as may be prescribed
(c) no one
(d) the police only
Ans. (b) her legal heir or such other person as may be prescribed — Explanation: Section 9(2) read with Rule 6 provides for complaints by others. [Ref: Section 9(2); Rule 6]
9. Where the aggrieved woman is physically incapacitated, a complaint may be filed by
(a) only the employer
(b) only a lawyer
(c) any stranger without consent
(d) her relative, friend, co-worker or an officer of the NCW or SCW, or any person who knows of the incident, with her written consent
Ans. (d) her relative, friend, co-worker or an officer of the NCW or SCW, or any person who knows of the incident, with her written consent — Explanation: Rule 6(i) lists these persons for physical incapacity; written consent is needed only for a person who merely has knowledge of the incident. [Ref: Rule 6(i)]
10. Where the aggrieved woman has mental incapacity, a complaint may be filed by
(a) only her employer
(b) her relative or friend, a special educator, a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist, her guardian or authority under whose care she is, or a person who knows of the incident jointly with any of them
(c) only the police
(d) no one
Ans. (b) her relative or friend, a special educator, a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist, her guardian or authority under whose care she is, or a person who knows of the incident jointly with any of them — Explanation: Rule 6(ii) lists these persons; written consent is not required in this case. [Ref: Rule 6(ii)]
11. Where the aggrieved woman is dead, a complaint may be filed by
(a) only the police
(b) no one
(c) any person who knows of the incident, with the written consent of her legal heir
(d) only the employer
Ans. (c) any person who knows of the incident, with the written consent of her legal heir — Explanation: Rule 6(iv) provides for this. [Ref: Rule 6(iv)]
12. Where the aggrieved woman cannot make a complaint for any other reason, a complaint may be made by any person who knows of the incident
(a) only with the respondent's consent
(b) with her written consent
(c) without her consent
(d) only through the police
Ans. (b) with her written consent — Explanation: Rule 6(iii) requires her written consent. [Ref: Rule 6(iii)]
13. The provision for making a complaint is in
(a) Section 9
(b) Section 13
(c) Section 10
(d) Section 11
Ans. (a) Section 9 — Explanation: Section 9 deals with complaint of sexual harassment. [Ref: Section 9]
14. In Vaneeta Patnaik v. Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti (2025), it was held that the limitation in Section 9
(a) is ten years
(b) is strict and cannot be bypassed by treating later administrative actions as a continuing wrong
(c) does not apply to senior officers
(d) can be ignored by the Committee
Ans. (b) is strict and cannot be bypassed by treating later administrative actions as a continuing wrong — Explanation: The Supreme Court held that the Section 9 time limits apply strictly, the outer limit is six months, and the harassment is a completed wrong, not a continuing one. [Ref: Section 9; Vaneeta Patnaik v. Nirmal Kanti Chakrabarti, 2025]
15. Under Rule 7(1), the complainant must submit to the Committee
(a) two copies signed by a lawyer
(b) six copies of the complaint with supporting documents and names and addresses of witnesses
(c) one copy only
(d) an affidavit before a magistrate
Ans. (b) six copies of the complaint with supporting documents and names and addresses of witnesses — Explanation: Rule 7(1) requires six copies with supporting documents and witness details. [Ref: Rule 7(1)]
16. A woman who was harassed on 1 January files her complaint on 25 May without any explanation. The Committee
(a) must refer it to the police
(b) must reject it only with the employer's approval
(c) must accept it in all cases
(d) may decline it as time-barred, as no circumstances were shown for extension
Ans. (d) may decline it as time-barred, as no circumstances were shown for extension — Explanation: The complaint is beyond three months, and extension requires circumstances that prevented filing, with reasons recorded. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
17. Harassment occurred on 10 February, 1 March and 20 April. The three-month limit runs from
(a) the date of complaint
(b) 20 April
(c) 1 March
(d) 10 February
Ans. (b) 20 April — Explanation: For a series of incidents, time runs from the date of the last incident. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
18. A complaint may be made under the Act by
(a) only the employer
(b) only the National Commission for Women
(c) the aggrieved woman, and in specified cases by others on her behalf
(d) any person without any link to the incident
Ans. (c) the aggrieved woman, and in specified cases by others on her behalf — Explanation: Section 9 gives the right to the aggrieved woman, with Section 9(2) and Rule 6 allowing others in specified cases. [Ref: Section 9]
19. Anonymous complaints under the Act are
(a) not contemplated, since the Act requires a written complaint by the aggrieved woman or a permitted person
(b) compulsory to inquire into
(c) to be sent to the police
(d) the main mode of complaint
Ans. (a) not contemplated, since the Act requires a written complaint by the aggrieved woman or a permitted person — Explanation: The scheme of Section 9 and Rule 7 requires an identified complainant so the respondent can reply. [Ref: Section 9; Rule 7]
20. A complaint may be made to
(a) only the District Officer
(b) only the High Court
(c) only the Chief Secretary
(d) the Internal Committee or, where applicable, the Local Committee
Ans. (d) the Internal Committee or, where applicable, the Local Committee — Explanation: Section 9(1) refers to the Internal Committee if constituted, or the Local Committee otherwise. [Ref: Section 9(1)]
21. A woman who has resigned can complain about harassment suffered while employed
(a) within the time limit, since the Act protects women at the workplace whether or not still employed
(b) only through the police
(c) only if she rejoins
(d) never
Ans. (a) within the time limit, since the Act protects women at the workplace whether or not still employed — Explanation: The definition of aggrieved woman does not depend on continuing employment; limitation applies. [Ref: Sections 2(a) and 9]
22. When a complaint is received through SHe-Box, it is
(a) forwarded to the Internal Committee or Local Committee with jurisdiction
(b) sent to the Supreme Court
(c) decided by the Ministry itself
(d) treated as an FIR
Ans. (a) forwarded to the Internal Committee or Local Committee with jurisdiction — Explanation: SHe-Box routes complaints to the committee with jurisdiction; it does not replace the committees. [Ref: SHe-Box portal, Ministry of Women and Child Development]
23. The time limit for complaints under Section 9 is counted from the incident, and the extension
(a) is discretionary with the Committee
(b) can be granted only by the employer
(c) is automatic
(d) can be granted only by the court
Ans. (a) is discretionary with the Committee — Explanation: The second proviso to Section 9(1) uses "may extend", giving the Committee discretion with recorded reasons. [Ref: Section 9(1), second proviso]
24. A special educator may file a complaint on behalf of an aggrieved woman who has
(a) physical incapacity only
(b) died
(c) mental incapacity
(d) resigned
Ans. (c) mental incapacity — Explanation: Rule 6(ii) includes a special educator for cases of mental incapacity. [Ref: Rule 6(ii)]
25. Officers of the National Commission for Women or a State Women's Commission may file a complaint on behalf of an aggrieved woman who is
(a) a minor only
(b) dead, without anyone's consent
(c) unwilling to complain
(d) physically incapacitated
Ans. (d) physically incapacitated — Explanation: Rule 6(i) includes officers of the NCW or SCW in cases of physical incapacity. [Ref: Rule 6(i)]
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These questions are prepared for practice from the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (with the 2013 Rules, and Supreme Court and High Court rulings up to 2026). Check the latest notifications and your service rules before relying on any detail.