An accountant with the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) who had lodged an FIR against her superiors for harassment has lodged a complaint with the Director General of Police (DGP) against the in charge of women police station in Williamnagar for failing to register her FIR.
According to the complainant, the women police station has “purposely and maliciously” delayed to register and investigate her FIR against Maternal and Child Health Officer Dr Lobingwell M Sangma and District Programme Manager, Karak Sevenstar A Sangma and District Medical and Health Officer, Dr Ivory Sangma.
In her complaint to the DGP, the woman said she had lodged her FIR on December 21 and was received by the officer in-charge. However, the next day she was informed that the FIR was misplaced and that she corrected and re-write the date to show the receipt of December 22.
“I submitted my FIR at around 3pm and the court is still open and Chief Judicial Magistrate and District Session Judge were very much present, but the officer in charge refused to register my FIR saying that there was no Court/Magistrate as she needs Court order under section 27 of the sexual Harassment of Workplace Act, 2013.
The complainant further said that on December 22 her FIR was not forwarded to the court. “The officer also strongly refused to registered my FIR stating that one of the accused Dr. (Mrs.) Ivory Sangma District Medical & Health Officer, Williamnagar, East Caro Hills District. Meghalaya have instructed the officer-in-charge of Williamnagar women police station not to entertain and registered my FIR,” the woman stated.
She said this was gross violation of Article 14 of the Constitution as police should equally treat and apply the law to every citizen irrespective of their position and status in the society.
She further urged the DGP to take stringent action against the erring officer for the unequal treatment and for abuse of process and to replace the officer.
