Date:12/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/12/stories/2006111218670300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Charges against BMP official false'

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: After the suspension of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Welfare Officer T.P. Shivanand following a National Commission of Women (NCW) inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against him, a section of women tailoring teachers on Saturday claimed that the charges were false.

"We are not here to support the official. But we know that the charges are false and they were brought against him because he was strict and demanded that the teachers take classes regularly. It is only about 20 out of 300 teachers who have complained," said Chaya Devi, a tailoring teacher.

When pointed out that a large number of women had signed the complaint sent to the NCW, Ms. Devi said that the signatures were taken on the pretext of giving a petition to higher officials for increase in salary. "They just attached the paper containing the signatures with the complaint copy. We are going to bring it to the notice of the NCW and the BMP Commissioner," she said.