Bhubaneswar: Higher education institutes without an internal committee (IC) would not be allowed to take admission through the student academic management system (SAMS) for the 2026-27 session, the government said on Thursday. For colleges operating outside SAMS, universities have been asked to withhold permission for exams until compliance is ensured.On Thursday, the higher education department directed all universities and colleges, both government and private, to mandatorily form ICs under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, also known as POSH Act. Failure to comply, the department warned, would result in restrictions on both admissions and examinations. The directive applies to all government, aided and unaided colleges, as well as public and private universities, including deemed institutions.The department has clarified that colleges admitting students through SAMS must have a functional IC in place. Under POSH Act, an IC (formerly internal complaints committee) is required to investigate, provide redressal, and ensure compliance with the Act.In a letter issued by joint secretary Mousumi Nayak on Thursday, the department noted that compliance with formation of ICs and their effective functioning remains uneven across higher education institutes.Regional directors of education have been tasked with ensuring 100% compliance and initiating action, including issuing notices for cancellation of recognition, in case of violations. The order also mandates all ICs to submit annual reports to the respective local complaints committees within the prescribed timeline, with copies to the regional directors.Apart from institutional compliance, the department has laid out detailed guidelines to ensure safety and security for women employees and students. These include adequate lighting across campuses, elimination of dark or isolated areas, installation of CCTV cameras in common spaces without violating privacy norms and deployment of sufficient security personnel, including women staff where feasible.Higher education institutes have been instructed to provide dedicated, confidential spaces for IC proceedings, maintain proper records and extend necessary support, including counselling, to complainants.The department warned that failure to comply with these directions may invite stringent action, including withdrawal or cancellation of institutional recognition.
