Tamil Nadu government suspends former Special DGP after woman IPS Officer’s sexual harassment complaint

GENERAL OVERVIEW

• On 16th March(Tuesday) Madras High Court asked the Tamil Nadu government to suspend Special DGP who is facing a sexual harassment allegation by a woman IPS Officer.
• Justice N Anand Venkatesh said, “It is a settled law that the period during which a government servant is kept under compulsory wait is construed to be a period spent on duty.”
• An Internal Inquiry Committee headed by a senior woman IAS officer, the Crime Branch CID also registered a case against the former special DGP.

FURTHER DETAILS

• The madras high court has taken suo-moto cognizance of the alleged sexual harassment case and has decided to monitor the investigation itself.
• The bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh noted that the government had earlier suspended the then Chengalpet SP soon after transferring him to the Commercial Crimes Investigation Wing, he was accused for of intercepting the plaintiff’s car and tried to stop her from lodging the complaint. Last week the woman officer filed a written complaint against both the officers.
• However, the court observed that the ex-Special DGP had yet not been suspended and been kept on ‘compulsory wait’. The court also said, “the government servant concerned will be entitled for all service benefits, including allowances during his period of compulsory wait. It is therefore, clear that keeping an officer under compulsory wait can never be construed as a punishment.”
• In this case the investigation is conducted by an officer in the rank of Superintendent of police but the accused holds the rank of Special DGP, to which the court stated, “when such a superior officer who has been kept on a mere compulsory wait, is interrogated by a officer of subordinate rank, the same will psychologically intimidate the officer from carrying on with the interrogation in a free and fair manner.”
• The state government on 23rd March notifies the Madras High Court that vide order dated 18th March issued by Home (SC) department has now suspended the officer with immediate effect.

What do you think about this case where an officer holding a high rank in Indian police service is charged with sexual harassment and further used his power and contacts to stop the plaintiff from filing a complaint against him

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