Govt officials cannot remain mute spectators on sexual harassment complaints: HC

The Allahabad High Court has said senior government officials cannot remain silent spectators on complaints of sexual harassment of women at workplace and directed authorities to post within a week an assistant teacher at Meerut, where her husband and in-laws reside.

The judgement was passed by Justice Ajai Bhanot hearing the petition of the assistant teacher working in a primary school at Bareilly.

The petitioner has a three and a half year old daughter who lived with her. The child was sexually abused by the headmaster inside school premises following which an FIR was lodged against him.

A detailed complaint was also submitted to the higher officials of the department and she requested for her transfer from Bareilly. After she filed the complaint, she was assaulted and threatened.
 

The court found that an inquiry conducted block education officer confirmed the incident and he had recommend for the petitioner's transfer.

The court found that in the present case there was a complete failure in the implementation of law as provided under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.