Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080856681400.htm

National

Ex-Orissa Speaker cleared in harassment case

Staff Reporter

The complaint was filed by a suspended woman marshal of the Assembly
Maheswar Mohanty subsequently stepped down from his post

BHUBANESWAR: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) of Orissa on Thursday dropped the sexual harassment charges against the former Assembly Speaker, Maheswar Mohanty, ahead of the election of a new Speaker.

The government had asked the SHRC to probe the alleged sexual harassment charges levelled by suspended woman marshal of the Assembly Gayatri Panda against Mr. Mohanty during the last budget session. Subsequently, he stepped down from his post.

“There was no credible evidence produced by Ms. Panda in support of her allegations. And for that reason we have held that the allegations are not true,” Justice Radha Krushna Patra, SHRC Chairperson, told reporters here on Thursday.

Mr. Justice Patra, however, said the police were free to investigate the matter further based on a complaint filed by Ms. Panda with the mahila police station.

Pointing out that there was no sexual harassment cell in the Assembly, the Commission asked the government to put in place an in-house mechanism in the State as well as district level offices to deal with such complaints made by any woman employee.

Moral victory: Mohanty

Reacting to the SHRC order, Mr. Mohanty said: “I have been maintaining from day one that I have been implicated in this case. The SHRC verdict is a moral victory for me. Ultimately the truth prevailed.”

After Mr. Mohanty stepped down, Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora was discharging the duty of Speaker.

The government has decided to elect a new Speaker on August 19, a day before the beginning of the monsoon session.