Woman pilot alleging sexual harassment by Flt Cmdr
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 27: High Court has sought the response of Defence Ministry and Indian Air Force (IAF) officers in a plea by a woman pilot alleging sexual harassment by her Flight Commander and subsequent unfair manner of inquiry by the Internal Complaints Committee.
During the course of hearing Advocate Aseem Sawhney appearing for the petitioner submitted that the accused officer repeatedly demanded sexual favours from the petitioner and passed objectionable comments against her while touching her inappropriately.
The petitioner has also raised a pertinent legal issue regarding the applicability of the Sexual Harassment at Work Place Act (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) and Rules to the Armed Forces.
The petitioner also took strong objection to the manner in which the Internal Complaints Committee constituted under the 2013 Act was conducting it proceedings when she filed a complaint against the accused.
Advocate Aseem Sawhney argued that the respondents are not implementing the provisions of the 2013 Act and Rules in letter and spirit and are adopting their own self-devised arbitrary methods to somehow silence the petitioner and hush up the inquiry.
After hearing counsel for the petitioner, Justice Sanjeev Kumar issued notice to the Union Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force officials asking them to file their responses within four weeks. The High Court also stayed the proceedings before the ICC. Assistant Solicitor General Vishal Sharma accepted notice on behalf of the Union of India.
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