| Accused Additional Resident Commissioner enjoying departmental immunity | | Woman KAS officer facing slur, sexual harassment in Delhi | | Abodh Sharma
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 19: At a time when entire nation is exceedingly concerned over safety and security of women and the Government of the day has reiterated its commitment over the issue, it is a pity that a woman officer of the state, posted in the national capital is being subjected to sexual harassment and worst mental torture by her superior. Reprehensively, those at the helm of affairs assumed a criminal silence over the issue, impelling the victim to approach Delhi Police for registering a criminal case against the accused.
As per the documents available with ET, a woman KAS officer, posted as manager Jammu and Kashmir House Chanakyapuri, New Delhi was being subjected to sexual harassment and mental torture by her superior, Asif Hamid Khan, Additional Resident Commissioner, J&K posted at New Delhi and had been crossing all lines of civility despite best effort of the victim to dissuade him. The more worrying however is the fact that the head department of Hospitality and Protocol, the Principal Secretary, did not take cognizance of the serious complaint and advised her to 'hope' that things would improve.
In a complaint written by the victim to the Principal Secretary vide office letter no. KRC/MJKH/CP/308/14, dated December 31, 2014, the victim narrated in detail the tale of her woes and unwarranted behaviour of the additional resident secretary Asif Hamid Khan, who according to the victim was making lewd comments on her, forcing her to sit in front of him without work, calling her in the office on holidays, making obscene gestures to her and coercing her to accompany her to malls and parties. "Last week, he crossed all limits and forcibly held my hand and started gazing at my neck" the victim wrote, clearly indicating that the Additional Resident Commissioner had gone berserk.
Expressing apprehensions of threat to her life from the accused, the victim urged speedy justice and end to agony and trauma she was facing; but interestingly, the accused got the copy of victim's complaint that was written to the Principal Secretary in confidence.
On January 5, 2015, the victim wrote another letter to the Principal Secretary Hospitality and Protocol, narrating how the accused had stepped up torture and harassment of the victim, but the Head of the Department remained inert to the serious complaint that warranted immediate action in accordance with the Apex Court directions pertaining to such cases.
Cornered by the accused, the hapless woman officer finally approached Delhi Police seeking registration of a criminal case against the accused.
BJP MLA and senior leader Dr. Nirmal Singh who has been approached over the issue by the relatives of the victim when contacted expressed his anguish over the incident. "It is reprehensible that a KAS officer is being harassed by her own superior. There are clear guidelines issued by the Apex Court to deal with matters of this kind and the Chief Secretary should act against the accused accordingly" said Dr. Singh.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that cognizance in this regard has finally been taken and a committee has been constituted to inquire into the accusations leveled by the woman officer. However, sources divulge that the very constitution of the committee is biased and the Apex Court guidelines regarding constitution of 'Vishakha Committee' have been ignored. |
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