BMC sexual harassment case: Info panel directs to give details to applicant

The state information commission (SIC) in its interim orders has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide information to an applicant on action taken on a complaint she had made against an additional municipal commissioner. She had accused an additional municipal commissioner of sexual and mental harassment.

The interim orders were passed on December 3, 2018, by state chief information commissioner Sumit Mullick. In the three RTI applications sent to the BMC, the applicant has sought details of certified copies of the municipal commissioner's remarks and of action taken over her complaint against him. She has sought details of action taken by the additional municipal commissioner (western suburbs) after directives from the municipal commissioner, details of remarks and recommendations to the municipal commissioner after the inquiry conducted over her complaints and action taken on retracting statement before the additional municipal commissioner (western suburbs).

The public information officer stated that since the inquiry on her complaints was underway, the information could not be provided. The first appellate authority (FAA) in its order upheld the contention of the PIO for denying information. The applicant then filed second appeal with information commission. During the second appeal hearing, the information commission ordered the PIO to provide the applicant with updated information on action taken on all her complaints.

The order went on to state that information should also be provided on the action taken by the municipal commissioner on the three complaints she had filed. The applicant also asked about the action taken related to retraction of statement and that details of the same be provided to her. The next hearing is scheduled to be held on December 27.

Vijay Singhal, additional municipal commissioner against whom sexual harassment allegations were made said, " TheBMC has to provide information. Her earlier complaint was not about sexual harassment. It was about misbehaviour and misconduct. She added sexual harassment and something else later. The commissioner has already given an inquiry order and nothing was found when a senior lady officer conducted the inquiry on her complaint. She did not rely on the findings and approached the state government. The state government has also already constituted inquiry as per Vishakha guidelines, which is underway. Let her keep faith in that system. I am open for any inquiry and would be happy for the truth to come out in the open."

FACT CHECK

The applicant had accused an additional municipal commissioner of sexual and mental harassment and has now sought details of inquiry