The Delhi High Court has dismissed a writ petition moved by a government employee challenging orders for downgrading his rank on the charges of sexual harassment of two women from the family of a woman peon.
The court said it was a clear case of conduct unbecoming of a government servant.
A Division Bench comprising Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice I.S. Mehta also imposed a cost of Rs. 50,000 on petitioner, S.K. Jasra.
“People with upright moral values and integrity should only make way into public service and not those who are beasts in disguise,” said the Bench.
In its 28-page judgment delivered last week, the court said a public servant should, at all times, be it in a professional set-up or otherwise, conduct himself in a manner that is not subversive to discipline.
The petitioner’s rank was downgraded in 2012 from joint director in the Directorate of Pay, Pension and Regulations in the Defence Ministry to that of deputy director on the charges of harassing the daughter and daughter-in-law of a widowed peon. Mr. Jasra had challenged a decision of the Central Administrative Tribunal upholding the penalty imposed on him while contending that he could not be subjected to a punishment after a departmental inquiry was completed as the alleged conduct was not done in the course of his official duty.
Arguments rejected
Rejecting his arguments, the court said the complainant in the case, the peon, had sought help for her daughter, who was estranged from her husband.
However, the petitioner misbehaved with her daughter and daughter-in-law in a sexually inappropriate manner.
The Bench said Mr. Jasra, who retired in 2013, had “misused his dominant position” at the place where the complainant was working. The cost of Rs. 50,000 imposed on him will be paid to the complainant within four weeks.
Dismisses petition
by a govt employee challenging orders for downgrading his rank on charges of sexual harassment
