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States » NorthPosted at: Apr 30 2025 10:39PM


Nainital: Indian Forest Service officer accused of sexual harassment gets relief from High Court

Nainital, Apr 30 (UNI) An Indian Forest Service officer and former Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board (PCB), Sushant Kumar Patnaik, accused of sexual harassment, has received temporary relief from the High Court. The court has stayed the implications of the investigation conducted under the Vishakha Committee guidelines, effectively halting further action against him for now.

Patnaik is accused of sexually harassing a subordinate employee in his office in February last year. An FIR has been registered against him at the Rajpur police station in Dehradun, and he has been removed from his position as Member Secretary of the PCB.
Following the allegations, a committee was formed under the leadership of the then-Dehradun Chief Development Officer to investigate the matter in accordance with the Vishakha guidelines. The committee submitted its report, and the government directed an inquiry and disciplinary action against Patnaik under the All India Services Rules, 1969.


Patnaik challenged the government's decision in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), but was denied relief. He then approached the High Court, arguing that an investigation had already been conducted under the Vishakha guidelines and that a second investigation for the same charge was not permissible according to the Supreme Court's directives.
The High Court has temporarily stayed the effect of the chargesheet filed based on the first investigation report and has directed the complainant to be made a party to the case.

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Tags: #Nainital: Indian Forest Service officer accused of sexual harassment gets relief from High Court
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