Telangana: ASCI panel says victim abused

Hyderabad: The Internal Complaints Committee of the Administrative Staff College of India (Asci) has stated that four out of the five plaints regarding workplace harassment that a woman faculty member had accused former IAS official and DG of Asci Ravi Kant of, had taken place. The victim had also filed four complaints of sexual harassment of which one allegation, pertaining to a phone call made on June 15, 2015, by the DG to her, has been proven to a large extent.

The investigation report on the complaints, a copy of which is with DC, states, “The allegation of sexual harassment in terms of unwelcome verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature has been proven.”

Victim was sidelined, finds Asci probe panel
The investigation report on the complaints regarding sexual harassment at the Administrative Staff College of India states, “The committee has noted that incidents of unsolicited attempts to build a personal relationship with the woman, attempt to discuss matters of heath in detail, particularly when the woman was uncomfortable, and sending a visual chart of exercise, have occurred".

"The committee views that this amounts to sexual harassment. However, other allegations like making sexual coloured remarks are not proved. The testimony of the witness and evidence available suggest that there is a connection between this incident of workplace harassment and the incident of sexual harassment.”

The findings on the complaint regarding work place harassment states: “The aggrieved woman has been subjected to workplace harassment by the director-general (respondent 1) while respondent 2, the register, has played a very minimal role".

"The committee concludes that respondent 1 had created an intimidating environment for the woman. The director-general and registrar showed double-standards while acknowledging her presence on the campus and involving her in official responsibility, selectively. The feeling of hurt by the woman is justified.”

However, the four established findings on work harassment are not connected to the proven allegation of sexual harassment complaint.

The senior women staffer of Asci had accused the director general of Asci, Mr Ravi Kant, of sexual and work harassment. The victim had made five allegations in July 2015 all of which he had denied. She has also initiated a legal battle.

The chairman of Court of Governors couldn’t be reached for comments.
As per the Act, the ICC is competent to recommend action only on established complaints, the committee recommended that the minimum action to be taken against the respondent should be a strong censure in writing to be read out to the accused in the presence of the complainant, and on the determination of the amount to be paid to the victim.