Deccan Herald: New Delhi:
Thursday, April 24, 2014.
From showing
porn film to use of filthy language were among the 62 sexual harassment charges
levelled against Delhi Police personnel including an Assistant Commissioner of
Police who was "compulsorily retired".
Of these 62
cases registered between 2003 and 2013, accused in eight cases were acquitted
and charges in four cases could not be substantiated, according to a reply
received from Delhi Police in response to an RTI query.
There were
also certain anonymous complaints against police personnel for alleged sexual
harassment which were pending enquiries, it said adding that records between
2003-2006 in Delhi Police's security branch were not traceable.
One of the
sexual harassment cases was filed against an ACP in 2009 with the office of 1st
battalion of Delhi Armed Police, New Police Line, Kingsway camp.
He has been
compulsorily retired from service vide an order of Ministry of Home Affairs
dated January 21, 2013, Delhi Police said in response to the RTI query.
In a
complaint received last year by Police Control Room (PCR) branch, a woman
constable alleged that her colleague "used to shown porn film and use
filthy language during duty".
A
departmental enquiry has been ordered in the matter, the reply said.
In three
other complaints (two from anonymous complainant) received last year in the PCR
branch, it was alleged that women staff were sexually harassed and experienced
"indecent behaviour" from their male counterparts.
Authorities
ordered enquiries in all such cases and the same was yet to be
completed."There were 13 cases of alleged sexual harassment registered
under West District. In one of the FIRs registered in 2003, the accused
(constable) expired and the proceedings was abated by court on April 28,
2008," it said.
Sixteen cases
of alleged sexual harassment were registered under North West district of Delhi
Police against its personnel. The information on the nature of complaint and
action taken on them were denied by the authorities citing Section 8 1 (j) of
the RTI Act.
The Section
bars disclosure of "information which relates to personal information the
disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or
which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual".
Delhi Police
has a committee to look into cases of sexual harassment at work place.
"All the cases received in sexual harassment committee are looked into on
priority basis," a senior Delhi Police official said.Delhi Police has a
strength of about 80,000 personnel.
A complaint
was received from a woman constable saying "someone has written bad words
on the door of (office) room" of the then Establishment branch 11th-15th
battalion under New Police Line, Kingsway Camp in 2010. Following which, an FIR
was registered at Police Station Mukherjee Nagar, the reply said.
Seven cases
of alleged sexual harassment were registered in North East district of Delhi
Police.
"The
record of complaints (sexual harassment) from January 1, 2003 to December 31,
2006 is not found traceable. However, as per available record from January 1,
2007 to till date, no complaint of sexual harassment has been received against
any police personnel," Delhi Police security branch said in its reply.
One of the
FIRs filed in Aman Vihar police station under outer district last year by two
women constables against their two male colleagues has resulted in
compromise."They (accused) were also dealt with departmentally in which
they both have been awarded the punishment of forfeiture of three years
approved service permanently.
"Later
on, they have been acquitted in the said criminal case on the compromise
between both the parties," it said.
There were no
cases of sexual harassment in Delhi Police's crime branch, Police Training
College, Economic Offences Wing, Traffic (headquarters), Special Police Unit
for Women and Children, IGI airport, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Provisioning and
Logistics, Recruitment cell and licensing branch, according to the reply.
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