Woman scientist labels sexual assault charge against her boss
4 Jan 2014 6:34 AM IST
Durga (name changed) charged the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) management with trying to hush up the issue and wash their hands off without taking mandatory actions prescribed by law such as ensuring a woman member in the commission and the presence of a representative of a neutral NGO.
NJ Poole, chairman of the Governing Board of ICRISAT, in a reply to her notice, said they will request the management to reopen and reassess the complaint afresh.
The 28-year-old scientist in her notice stated that she had complained to the governing body on sexual harassment by her boss in January 2013 and though she agreed not to pursue the case only after the accused tendered a public apology, it never happened.
The unmarried scientist further alleged that she and the person ‘responsible’ for the entire trauma caused to her, continues to be working in the same department despite specific rules which makes it mandatory for the complainant and the accused to be separated in the workplace.
ICRISAT failed to take appropriate action to prevent further victimisation by the accused, the woman scientist, an MSc and PhD in agricultural sciences, said in her notice.
Working under same circumstance gives a window of opportunity to the accused to take every possible step to ensure that the workplace becomes uncomfortable to the complainant, it said.
Poole, in the reply, said the accused had tendered an apology which was accepted by Durga and the issue was resolved at that time and the case was closed.
‘In so far as failure to prevent further harassment and alleged victimisation issues is concerned, your client (Durga) did not seek transfer from the unit and in fact she was not immediately answerable to (the accused) per se,’ the ICRISAT reply said.
NJ Poole, chairman of the Governing Board of ICRISAT, in a reply to her notice, said they will request the management to reopen and reassess the complaint afresh.
The 28-year-old scientist in her notice stated that she had complained to the governing body on sexual harassment by her boss in January 2013 and though she agreed not to pursue the case only after the accused tendered a public apology, it never happened.
The unmarried scientist further alleged that she and the person ‘responsible’ for the entire trauma caused to her, continues to be working in the same department despite specific rules which makes it mandatory for the complainant and the accused to be separated in the workplace.
ICRISAT failed to take appropriate action to prevent further victimisation by the accused, the woman scientist, an MSc and PhD in agricultural sciences, said in her notice.
Working under same circumstance gives a window of opportunity to the accused to take every possible step to ensure that the workplace becomes uncomfortable to the complainant, it said.
Poole, in the reply, said the accused had tendered an apology which was accepted by Durga and the issue was resolved at that time and the case was closed.
‘In so far as failure to prevent further harassment and alleged victimisation issues is concerned, your client (Durga) did not seek transfer from the unit and in fact she was not immediately answerable to (the accused) per se,’ the ICRISAT reply said.
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