The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken action regarding allegations of organized religious conversion and sexual exploitation at Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) Nashik office. A complaint by the Legal Rights Observatory prompted the NHRC to issue notices to authorities in Maharashtra and TCS management. The complaint highlighted a lack of adherence to Vishaka Guidelines and a failure in corporate governance at the Nashik branch.
The NHRC, under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, directed Maharashtra’s Director General of Police, Nashik’s Commissioner of Police, the Labour Commissioner, and TCS’s CEO & MD to investigate the allegations thoroughly. The NHRC emphasized the need for a comprehensive enquiry into the matter, including details of FIRs, compliance with labor laws, and the functioning of TCS’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment mechanisms.
The NHRC also requested statements from employees, former staff, and committee members, seeking an Action Taken Report within seven days from all concerned authorities. Simultaneously, the issue has reached the Supreme Court, with a fresh application linking the Nashik incident to concerns about organized religious conversion. The application calls for stricter legal measures against forced conversions and urges the government to frame laws to prevent unlawful religious conversions nationwide.
