Happenings

Mr. Ghosh engaged the audience in a thoughtful discussion around how contemporary HR practices are increasingly being shaped by corporate law, especially in the face of emerging trends such as remote work, AI in recruitment, workplace surveillance, and evolving compliance expectations. He emphasised that with increasing digitisation, organisations must take a more integrative approach where HR is not just about hiring and employee welfare, but also about upholding statutory and ethical standards.

One of the first issues the resource person discussed was the ethical dilemma surrounding solicitation within the workplace or academic groups. Citing everyday examples such as collecting funds for birthdays or events, he explained how such practices, although voluntary in appearance, can sometimes impose social pressure on individuals. He reflected on how this could become problematic, particularly for those who may not be financially able to contribute but feel obligated due to group expectations. He suggested fostering an environment where participation is entirely voluntary and empathy-based.

The speaker also highlighted the increasing importance of background verification in recruitment processes. He noted that organisations today go beyond mere academic and employment checks, often including criminal record verification, POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) history, behavioural tendencies, and even an individual's social media activity. In his words, social media has become a powerful tool for assessing alignment between a candidate's public persona and an organisation's values, especially when hiring for roles that demand high ethical conduct.

A particularly compelling segment of the lecture was when Mr. Ghosh shared a real-life POSH-related case from his experience. Eventually, the court ruled in favour of the organisation, recognising that it is well within a company's right to take disciplinary action when physical violence occurs on its premises, regardless of personal relationships or consent between involved parties. The case was a powerful reminder of the need for strong internal compliance frameworks and swift responses to workplace misconduct. 

The session also shed light on the increasing role of artificial intelligence in recruitment. Mr. Ghosh explained how many companies now rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), an AI-based tool that filters resumes based on keywords, formatting, and content relevance. This has made it crucial for applicants to ensure their CVs are tailored to specific job descriptions and optimised for machine-based shortlisting.

Towards the end, the session evolved into an engaging Q&A round where students asked about current challenges in HR legal compliance. One of the questions involved how modern workplace trends like remote work and employee surveillance are legally balanced. Mr. Ghosh responded by elaborating on the growing attention to privacy laws and trust-based management systems. Another question invited him to share real-life examples of companies that faced legal consequences due to poor HR policies, to which he reiterated the earlier POSH case and stressed the legal and reputational risks of non-compliance.

The guest lecture successfully combined theoretical insights with real-world examples, providing the attendees—especially aspiring legal professionals—a deeper understanding of how law and HR practices intersect in corporate governance. Mr. Ghosh's expertise and openness in sharing live case experiences made the session intellectually rewarding and practically relevant.

The event was coordinated by Dr Amruta Ballal & Prof. Vaidehi Parekh, Faculty In-Charges, Training and Placement Cell, under the constant guidance and support of our Director, Dr. Sukhvinder Singh Dari and Faculty Advisor Dr. Ahmer Afaq. The student body received the session well and served as a valuable opportunity to understand the human side of legal compliance in corporate culture.