Petition filed by woman SI over sexual harassment dismissed
PTI
Madurai, Aug 2 (PTI) The Madras High Court bench today dismissed a petition filed by a policewoman, seeking action against three of her colleagues for alleged sexual harassment. Justice M Jeyapaul, before whom the petition by the lady sub-inspector came up today, noted that the SP had ordered an enquiry, based on a complaint by her father against a constable, whom she had accused of behaving indecently with her.
During the enquiry she had admitted that no sexual favours were demanded from her. Despite this, she had chosen to give another complaint to the Home Secretary, involving the SP, which showed she was not sexually harassed by police officials, the judge said. If such a "desperate complaint" was taken congnisance of, no police officer could safely serve in a district and top police officials would not even venture to take action against a member of the uniformed force.
He agreed with counsel for the Inspector that entertaining such a complaint would tarnish the image of not only the respondents, but the entire police force. The woman SI submitted that her allegations were serious in nature and therefore would have to be thoroughly enquired into by the Home secretary. She also sought time to engage a senior counsel.
But Counsel for the head constable objected, saying she had "conducted the trial through the media" even before filing a complaint and that a petition was filed before the court. He also referred to her admission during enquiry and said the report was sent to the IG and the complaint dropped.
The woman SI had filed the petition on July 31, alleging that the SP of the Sivaganga district, where she is posted, an inspector and Special Branch CID constable had sexually harassed her over a period of time.
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