AHMEDABAD: A junior clerk of a government power company has moved the Gujarat high court for legal cover over departmental action initiated against her for filing a ‘frivolous’ complaint of sexual harassment against her boss.
Justice Biren Vaishnav on Tuesday has stayed the Paschim Gujarat Vij Co Ltd (PGVCL) from conducting any proceedings against the woman till the appellate authority decides the case.
The department began issuing notices to the employee as soon as the sexual harassment committee in Rajkot rejected her complaint for want of evidence. The committee also felt that the complaint was ‘misconceived’.
The case pertains a 40-year-old single woman working as a junior clerk in PGVCL office in a Suarashtra town. Last year, she complained against her superior’s behaviour alleging he made her sit in his chamber for long hours and used language which she deemed as improper. Her complaint was heard by the department’s sexual harassment committee in Rajkot and rejected it in October 2019.
The employee filed an appeal against the committee’s decision. After she filed an appeal with the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd’s (GUVNL) Vadodara office, PGVCL issued show-cause notice in February 2020 asking her to explain why departmental action should not be taken against her for filing a frivolous complaint of sexual harassment. She appeared before the panel once and requested it to stay proceedings at least till final decision on her appeal is taken.
However, the department insisted on continuing the proceedings against her. She approached the HC complaining about the intimidating tactics on part of the department.
After hearing the case, the HC has asked the appellate authority in GUVNL to expedite the hearing on the employee’s appeal and complete it in three months. Till then, the PGVCL authorities have been directed to adjourn their proceedings on request made by the employee.