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| 'Sex-tainted' babu gets additional charge of Secy SWD | | Insult to injury | | Early Times Report
srinagar, April 11: A middle rung J&K bureaucrat, who is facing a trial in a sexual harassment case in New Delhi, has been given additional charge as Secretary Social Welfare Department (SWD) by the state government.
According to an (order No: PS/HM/SWD/ST/ARI/T-187-98, dated:- 3-04-2018) issued by Personal Section of Minister for Social Welfare, ARI & Training and Sciences and Technology Department, the tainted bureaucrat has been given powers as Administrative Secretary in addition to his own posting.
"I, am, directed to convey that till such time a full-fledged Administrative Secretary is posted in (SWD), all files shall be routed through Special Secretary (A)," the order issued by OSD on behalf of the minister reads.
According to the order, the Managing Director (MD) Integrated Child Development Scheme, MD Integrated Child Protection Scheme, MD Women's Development Corporation, MD SC/ST Corporation, Director Social Welfare Kashmir/Jammu, Secretary State Commission of Backward Class and Secretary Pahari Board will have to route all files through the accused bureaucrat.
Previous Secretary SWD attained superannuation on March 31. The post remains vacant since then.
A senior official in Civil Secretariat told Early Times that Social Welfare Minister Sajad Lone is not only shielding the culprit from the alleged sexual harassment case but is also trying to elevate him as full-fledged Secretary even though he is junior most.
"The families of the minister and the accused bureaucrat enjoy old ties due to which the minister was lobbying for him despite the fact the latter being accused of a heinous crime like assault on a female KAS officer. This has also put the credibility of the minister at stake," he said.
"Giving charge of SWD to an officer who has serious allegations against him is an insult to 'Beti Bachav Scheme.' It is ironical that such a person who is notorious for harassing women employees will head such a sensitive department," the official rued.
A subordinate female officer had two years ago accused the bureaucrat in question of sexually harassing her and had filed a detailed complaint against him at her parent department in Civil Secretariat.
Both officials at the time of alleged incident were posted outside the state. However, even after repeated complaints by the victim, the government failed to initiate any action against the accused officer, absolving him of all his wrongdoings.
On January 20, 2015, the victim KAS officer had informed the superiors of the department against the harassment being meted out to her by the accused.
As per reports, a committee was later constituted by the department to inquire into the allegations against the accused. The very constitution of the committee was illegal because it was set up after the incident, while it was mandatory for the state administration to have Vishakha Committee in place in accordance with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
There were voices of concern being heard even then that the committee was not only illegal but also biased against the victim from the very outset. Despite several requests by the victim to help her in collecting evidence against the accused who was in possession of all documentary evidences by virtue of his position, nothing was done. Later the female officer approached the court of law to get justice.
The claims of the victim that the government was trying to shield the culprit, meanwhile, were vindicated by a Delhi court last year in November when it pointed out that the investigating officer of the case has deliberately tried to eclipse statements of various important witnesses who had testified against the accused.
Pertinently, these witnesses include two female KAS officers and a legislator who was a junior minister in the Jammu and Kashmir collation. |
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