A resident of Tura has raised concerns over the efficacy of the enquiry committee that has been set up to investigate allegations of sexual misdemeanour against the dean of the CoCS, CAU, Puspita Das.
Earlier two female employees, one a medical staff and contractual security guard filed police cases alleging that Das had made them do household chores, outside of their duty while also having them massage her on a daily basis which included her private parts
As per N Tomthin, an enquiry committee was sent by the University to the college to find the merits or lack of it in the FIR raised.
“However, in the course of enquiry, the committee, under pressure of the incumbent dean and her contacts in ICAR, has been trying to find out who supported the complainants, either passively or actively, instead of going into the allegations of exploitation which may well fall into the purview of stringent SC and ST act and sexual harassment at workplace,” alleged Tomthin
Further the committee has also been accused of intimidation of the staffs as well as the complainants. As if that was not enough, one of the complainants has been served with a show cause notice by the vengeful college administration for going to the police and lodging the FIR.
As torch bearers for society, the resident said that justice should be done and must also be seen to be done.
“Instead of providing justice to the aggrieved parties, the university authorities are more inclined to assign motives to the complainants and to anyone they think to have supported the complainants. The committee is indulging in unjustified muzzling of complaints against one of their own top officers, it is indeed a sorry state of affairs,” added Tomthin.
Earlier the Mothers’ Union too had raised concerns over the investigating committee into the complaint while adding that it felt justice would not be served due to the university trying to protect Das, instead of getting to the bottom of the sexual affront on the complainants.
Tomthin urged NGOs, activists and government agencies to intervene so that no undue pressure is exerted on the enquiry committee and ensure that the committee does its mandated duties without fear or favour.
“If it’s to be to an internal committee, so be it. If the internal committee is compromised for any reason, there shouldn’t be anything wrong in approaching other remedial means or authorities for justice,” Tomthin added while asking the CAU to set an example in this case.
