Date:13/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091323350300.htm

New Delhi

Delhi Transco fails to take action against `erring' officials

Staff Reporter

One of the accused is allegedly involved in a sexual harassment case

NEW DELHI: Delhi Transco Limited is yet to initiate any disciplinary action against three of its senior officials, including an Army colonel who is on deputation with it, despite eight months having passed since the State Complaints Committee (SCC) on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Working Women called for action against them for "committing irregularities" and not dealing with a sexual harassment case in all seriousness as per law.

In its order, the SCC comprising three senior Indian Administrative Service officials - Member-Secretary of Delhi Commission for Women P.M. Singh, New Delhi Municipal Council Chairperson Sindhushree Khullar and Principal Secretary, Education, Rina Ray -- had held that the officials had "failed to exercise their duty diligently while investigating the complaint about alleged harassment of the victim by the accused as enumerated and law propounded in the case of `Visakha and others' by Supreme Court".

The Committee had stated that there were "established facts and circumstances that Sandeep Khurana had committed an act of sexual harassment by physically mishandling (the victim) and giving her a blood written card". It further said that making statements like calling her a "keep" amounted to sexual harassment.

But the Committee said the three officials who investigated the case -- A.K. Kaul, General Manager (SLDC), Colonel Dinkar Adeeb, General Manager (Administration/Legal) and Shyama Bharti, Deputy General Manager (Administration) -- failed to act diligently.

"The Complaint Committee in DTL also has dealt with the case in a casual manner and ignored significant and material evidence available on record,'' the SCC said, adding that: "`it is necessary that to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure from senior levels the Complaint Committee should involve experts who are familiar with the issue of sexual harassment."

But it said in this case "even the Chairperson DTL Complaint Committee and GM (Admn/Legal) exhibited their inability to assess the case of sexual harassment with the sensitivity it deserves" and that such treatment to the complainant in the office by senior officers in DTL had dragged her to a state of depression for which she has been undergoing medical treatment.

The SCC concluded that the "fact-findings and conclusions recorded in the case were patently erroneous" and the entire approach of Delhi Transco Limited was "inappropriate, inadequate and lacking seriousness with the case of sexual harassment".

However, while the order was given on January 13 and the Delhi Commission for Women has sent two reminders in February and July, DTL has so far not taken any action against the three. A senior official said neither has DTL informed Colonel Adeeb's parent cadre, the Indian Army, about the incident nor have they initiated any action against their own staff.

Principal Secretary Power and DTL Chairman Rakesh Mehta on his part said show cause notices have been served on the accused persons and their replies are awaited: "Our HR Department is looking into the matter."