HC tells Air France to conduct fresh probe

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dubbed as “invalid” an internal complaints committee (ICC) of Air France set up to deal with sexual harassment charges levelled by an Indian woman staffer against a former officer of the airline.

It directed the French national carrier to reconstitute its ICC in 30 days “in strict compliance with the requirements under law”, and ordered the panel to conduct a fresh inquiry. The court set aside the ICC report exonerating the official, a French national who was handling its cargo business in India, Nepal and Bhutan in 2013, of all charges, observing that the “Vishakha guidelines are to be taken seriously, and not followed in a ritualistic manner”.