Panel to move HC against animal husbandry chief

The district-level complaints committee will file a petition to vacate the interim stay granted by the Madras High Court on its summons issued to P. Padmanaban, director of the Animal Husbandry Department, to probe a sexual harassment complaint lodged against him by an assistant veterinary surgeon.

The woman official had lodged a complaint with the complaints committee headed by chairperson Vidyaa Ramkumar on March 31 alleging sexual harassment at workplace by Mr. Padmanaban.

Ms. Ramkumar said the committee had summoned the accused to appear before it on Tuesday.

However, Mr. Padmanaban had obtained an interim stay from the Madras High Court to the summons, she said.

Victim submits recordings

As many as 27 witnesses, including employees of the Animal Husbandry Department, had deposed before the committee and submitted their replies too. The complainant continued to face harassment till she lodged a complaint with the committee. The victim had also submitted an audio recording of the accused’s conversation with her.

Ms. Ramkumar said the accused got in touch with a senior official of the Animal Husbandry Department in Tamil Nadu where the victim’s husband was working as a veterinarian and tried to persuade the latter to withdraw the complaint.

‘Witnesses threatened’

The accused had also threatened several of the witnesses to withdraw their complaints. All these evidences would be placed before the High Court seeking to vacate the stay, she added.

The committee is required to complete the process of inquiry and submit its report within 90 days of the filing of the complaint to the Collector. The committee has also recommended 90 days of leave to the woman official as admissible under Rule 48 of CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972, with immediate effect. It will submit its recommendations to the District Collector within 90 days.