​The High Court has pulled up the Directorate of Panchayats (DOP) for failing to ensure the constitution of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) under the PoSH Act across village panchayats in the state, warning that substantial costs will be imposed if an explanation is not submitted by October 19, 2026. ​The petitioner approached the court highlighting that the Village Panchayat of Majorda-Utorda-Calata has failed to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee mandated under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act. ​The court observed that although the Director of Panchayats had affirmed in an affidavit dated January 30, 2026, that every panchayat under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act constitutes an independent workplace and is legally required to set up an ICC, no progress has been documented since. ​"Despite a year having elapsed, till date there is no material placed on record by the DOP as to why the Internal Complaints Committee has not been constituted for the aforementioned Village Panchayat," the High Court observed anf further pointed out that no records had been submitted detailing the enforcement measures taken by the department to ensure compliance across all village panchayats in Goa. ​Directing the DOP to submit a detailed affidavit covering both issues by October 19, the court cautioned that failure to comply would attract severe financial penalties. ​The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 19.