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Senior women officers in Vidhana Soudha complain of mental, professional harassment

  • More than 30 women employees, including senior officers have alleged “professional harassment” by Legislative Assembly Secretary in-charge S Murthy 
  • Through an official complaint, they have sought the CM, law minister and Assembly Speaker to provide them with a secure/non-threatening work environment
  • They have said that Murthy’s posting is temporary, he is not authorised to take any decisions pertaining to service rules
  • The women also alleged that the House proceedings were being adversely impacted as senior officers have been stopped from attending the ongoing session
  • Murthy has allegedly framed false charges against women officers to scuttle their promotions
  • The officers told Asianet Newsable that lower rung officials are being subjected to sexual harassment
Senior women officers in Vidhana Soudha complain of mental professional harassment

Alleging sexual harassment to Group D employees, and “professional harassment” to senior women officers, women employees of the Legislative Assembly Secretariat have sought the State government’s immediate intervention.

On June 5, more than 30 women employees gave a representation to the Chief Minister’s Office, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra, Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad, and opposition leaders H D Kumaraswamy and Jagadish Shettar, seeking “a secure and a non-threatening work environment”. They have levelled charges against Assembly in-charge Secretary S Murthy, who has been holding the post since March 2016. 

As joint secretary, Murthy’s current posting is only temporary. However, to their dismay, none of their political bosses have taken their plight seriously. Expect for giving oral assurances, no action has been taken against the said officer.

There are 170 women employees in the Assembly Secretariat of the 950 odd employees. Around 20 of them are Class I officers. Despite being meted with continued harassment by Murthy over the last few months, these officers had remained silent. However, when lower rung officials (mostly Group D workers) started complaining about the alleged sexual harassment, the senior officers decided to stock of the situation.

The women officers got together and formed the Karnataka State Legislative Assembly Secretariat Women Employees Association, so that they can fight their battle on legal/legitimate grounds. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly Employees Association (KLAEA) too has extended its support to the women employees.

Two senior women officers, on condition of anonymity told Asianet Newsable that Murthy had not only withdrawn all of their powers, facilities and work allocation, he had also initiated departmental enquiries against them by leveling false charges.They said that trouble started brewing especially after the Supreme Court struck down the ‘consequential seniority’ in promotions awarded for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC and ST) employees since 1978, three months ago.

The Court had declared the Karnataka Determination of Seniority of the Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (To the Posts in the Civil Services of the State) Act, 2002, as invalid. Following this, scores of SC/ST employees will lose their current postings, and will be downgraded. The government is required to revise the seniority list by withdrawing promotions given to SC/ST employees by August 9.

“Though very few women were appointed to the legislature prior to the 1980s over the years, women have begun to hold key positions owing to their professionalism and efficiency. The Supreme Court order has come as a deterrent to Murthy, as he is apprehending a demotion. Once the Court order is implemented, he will lose the joint secretary post and become an under secretary. As two women joint secretaries are eligible for promotions, he is trying to scuttle their chances by leveling false charges against them,” said KLEAE president Subramanya Kumta. 

One of the woman officers said that Murthy had made a woman joint secretary shift from the office space allocated to her, to a small and dingy room. All of her staff members, including her driver were changed. While her work allocation was withdrawn, she has been stopped from attending the legislature sessions. 

“Though these officers endured the harassment meted out to them, they decided to act against Murthy only after Group D employees started complaining to them about sexual harassment,” said the officer, adding the women employees were subjected to profanity by Murthy.

When contacted, Murthy said that he did not want to comment on the issue. The Secretary-in charge has however constituted a ‘vigilance squad’ to monitor the secretariat employees. He said that employees lacked discipline and punctuality, and were often found loitering around in the power corridors or talking in groups. The squad is expected to furnish daily reports to him. Kumta said that Murthy has constituted the squad to exact revenge against the women employees, after they lodged a complaint against him. 

Following is the complaint copy. The fourth page, containing the signatures, has not been uploaded on request of the women employees.

 Senior women officers in Vidhana Soudha complain of mental professional harassment
 
 
Senior women officers in Vidhana Soudha complain of mental professional harassment

Senior women officers in Vidhana Soudha complain of mental professional harassment

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