Army launches probes after woman Major says sexually harassed by Lt Colonel

The matter came to light on Friday (October 24) when a former officer of the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Department, Colonel Mukul Dev (retd) made a post on X alleging that a case of sexual harassment/assault had been reported in writing to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the armoured division by a woman officer.

Col Dev alleged that instead of constituting an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace(Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, also known as POSH Act, the authorities concerned have ordered an inquiry, which is “absolutely illegal” at this stage. “In fact, as learnt reliably, all efforts are being made to intimidate the victim in every possible manner so as to make her withdraw her complaint,” he further alleged.

Later the same day, in another post on X, Col Dev said that after his first post, prompt action has been taken by GOC-in-C, Western Command, to investigate the case through Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the POSH framework.

The Army has integrated the Vishakha Guidelines and the POSH Act in the legal framework to investigate complaints of sexual harassment. There have been several instances in the past where these allegations have been investigated and then action taken against the accused by following the due process of law which often culminated in a trial by court martial.

Several senior ranked officers, including Major Generals, Brigadiers and Colonels among others have been punished in the past for such offences and sentenced to dismissal from service.

In 2019, a Major General serving in Assam Rifles in the North East was dismissed from service after being found guilty of sexual harassment following allegations levelled by a woman Captain.

In 2008, a Major General who had been commanding a Division in Ladakh had also been dismissed from service following a court martial after a woman Captain levelled allegations of sexual harassment at him.