HC refuses to interfere in SRFTI panel report on sex harassment plaint
Times of India | 24 December 2024
Kolkata: Calcutta High Court has refused to interfere with the preliminary inquiry report filed by the internal complaints committee (ICC) of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) on a complaint of sexual harassment filed against the dean of students, Vipin Vijay.
Justice Kausik Chanda on Dec 20 said before filing of the final report, the committee "must provide the petitioner (Vijay) with the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. Additionally, it is further clarified that the Institute shall refrain from taking any coercive measures against the petitioner based on the preliminary report."
Vijay had challenged the preliminary inquiry report and contended that the ICC findings exceeded the scope of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013. It was asserted that in reaching its findings, the committee examined 29 witnesses without providing the petitioner an opportunity to cross-examine them.
The counsel representing the ICC, Sukanta Ghosh, contended that while Vijay claimed that no opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses was provided, he himself did not avail it.
Justice Chanda said: "It is also desirable for the committee to conclude the inquiry as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date."
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