APS principal faces sexual harassment charge,women’s panel sends notice

In November last year,she claimed,he had verbally abused her and pushed her “with a blunt blow to the chest”. Bhatt has since been sacked from her job.

The police had filed a chargesheet against Singh and a second FIR against him and a colonel for witness intimidation. However,the Army on Tuesday claimed it was a “conspiracy” to malign it.

The Army is instead inquiring into charges that Bhatt “showed disrespect” to the principal after she was sacked in May this year on the ground that she lacked English language skills.

Speaking to The Indian Express,Bhatt said: “The principal,R K Singh,misbehaved with me on November 16,2010 and pushed me in a vulgar fashion when I turned down his advances. I had complained to the school authorities and they conducted an inquiry which found me guilty of shouting at the principal.”

According to Bhatt,the inquiry was conducted by two colonels in Singh’s presence.

“I was made to sit with them as they called in witnesses. They asked each witness only two questions: ‘Were you ever harassed? How is Mangala?’ It was a very uncomfortable situation,” Bhatt said.

Meena,a prime witness and an employee of APS,clearly stated to the police that she saw the principal pushing Bhatt.

“My husband Ompal was an assistant to the principal. Ever since my testimony,our life has become unbearable. Ompal was put under such strain to withdraw the statement that he had to seek psychiatric help. The principal has since barred me from entering the school,” said Meena,alleging that Singh and three others had repeatedly put pressure on her to withdraw her statement.

According to reports,other witnesses,Lakshman,a gardener,and two peons,Subhash and Pritam,have also not been allowed to enter the school since December 1.

APS employees and witnesses Sunita Datta,Kamaljit Verma and Jyoti Babu have reportedly been fired following their testimony to the police.

After Bhatt approached a local court,another FIR was registered against Singh charging him with witness intimidation.

Rajasthan People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) general secretary Kavita Srivastava questioned the authorities’ decision to keep Singh in his post despite a police chargesheet.

Rajasthan SCW chairperson Lad Kumari Jain said despite the Army’s claim,they failed to adhere to the Supreme Court-mandated Vishaka guidelines against sexual harassment at the workplace.

The 1997 guidelines state that the complaints committee should preferably be headed by a woman or that half its strength must include women and a third party or NGO must also be present.