Sexual harassment case against senior IPS officer: Chhattisgarh HC issues notice to Centre, state government

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh high court stayed the relief order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in sexual harassment case given to accused senior IPS officer Pawan Deo.

The court has served notice to the centre and state government to file an affidavit by July 11 to apprise it about the action taken in the given case. A sexual harassment complaint was lodged by a woman constable, in her twenties, in June 2016 against the 1992-batch IPS officer.

The state government then constituted a four-member inquiry committee under the principal secretary Renu G Pillay who submitted its findings on December 2, 2016. But no action has been taken over it so far.

"The state government in April this year prepared a new chargesheet, which was not based on the conclusive findings submitted by the Pillay committee, against the IPS officer, who challenged the chargesheet in CAT and got the stay. The victim ironically was not arranged during the proceeding before the CAT. And we brought this to the knowledge of the court after she challenged the stay of CAT. The court after hearing the case had issued notice to the Centre, the state government and the IPS officer to file reply through an affidavit on the action taken in the harassment case", the counsel of the victim Saurabh Dangi said.

The court has also asked the home secretary and the director general of police to submit an affidavit.