Team Herald
PANJIM: Aggrieved by the false sexual harassment complaint, a Lower Division Clerk (LDC) employed at the Government ITI, Altinho-Panjim, has now approached the Industrial Tribunal and Labour Court, Panjim, seeking to quash and set aside the report/decision of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and to hold the principal liable for action for making false and malicious complaint against him by taking advantage and using a woman staff.
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When contacted, principal Dattaprasad Palni refuted all the allegations and claimed that it was a fake case against him.
In his appeal, petitioner Shriniwas Shinde has prayed that the Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship be directed to initiate disciplinary action against principal Dattaprasad Palni for the serious misconduct and for making false and malicious complaint.
According to the petitioner, the ICC ignored the fact that Palni had taken advantage of the disability of the woman staff by influencing and threatening her with dire consequences. This was a clear case of criminal intimidation.
The ICC could not write in its conclusion that the perpetrator was “unknown” as this is not factually true. The woman staff had identified that the principal was the perpetrator and she confirmed it on two occasions. These facts were recorded by the ICC in its report and yet ignored.
The ICC wanted to protect the principal for reasons best known to it. However, it could not have waived off any penalties as recorded since the present case covered by Section 15 of the Act, Shinde said.
The petitioner has stated that once it came to light that it was the principal who instigated and forced the woman staff to file the false sexual harassment complaint, the ICC had to recommend disciplinary action against the principal.
Meanwhile, the Goa Government ITI Employees Association president Anil Bhonsle has demanded an independent inquiry into principal Palni’s actions for justice be done to Shinde.
He said that Palni’s conduct has been unfair and harassing the staff. He alleged that the principal created a conspiracy against Shinde and demanded his suspension to prevent further harm to the staff.
