Srinagar, Oct 19: At least five female medical employees have accused a top health official managing the affairs of a district in Central Kashmir of sexual harassment and have sought stern action against him, news agency KNT reported.
As per KNT report, these female complainants in a letter to the Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Department J&K, a copy of which lies with the news agency have alleged that the officer holding top post was forcing them to visit his office after 6 PM to get his signatures done on important files.
The complainant in their letter has said that they belong to the medical profession and when they went to the office chamber of the officer (name withheld) many times to get his signatures which are required for filing different forms regarding employment under different schemes, but unfortunately, he misbehaved with them, using very bad and unparliamentary language in the presence of many employees.
“Sometimes he asked us to visit different clerks who demanded money and other favors from us which we can’t even explain and sometimes he asked us to come to his office after 6 PM to get his signatures,” the letter reads.
They have alleged that the clerical staff of his office including the female employees informed them about his inhumane approach. “They told that he always fights with everybody and uses derogatory and unparliamentary language against almost everybody.”
“They (clerical staff) advised us that he (officer) is a very powerful person and he can go to any extent and will ruin your career if you speak against him as everybody is fed up with him but nobody has the courage to speak against this monster but we decided to go against this brutal and shameless person, as he has not only humiliated us, passing personal comments forcing us indirectly to succumb before him through his clerks but also by telling to come to his office after 6 PM, so we request your good self to take stern action against this monster and the shameless person so that no other female who goes to his office suffer any more for his vested interests,” the letter from the complainants read.
Quoting sources KNT said that an inquiry has been initiated against the said officer though he has already been attached for other bad reasons.
Sexual harassment complaints in the Health Department are not uncommon. In past as well several females had come forward accusing top brass of such kind of harassment. Even a Minister from the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir had to abdicate his chair after he was accused by a top female employee of sexual harassment.
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Some female employees levelled the same allegations against a couple of Directors from the Health Department in past.
In a significant development, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) Baramulla has ruled in favor of Irshad Ahmad Sheikh, who had filed a complaint dating back to 2015 under Section 12 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1987.
The complaint related to the purchase of a Samsung Galaxy 7262 mobile phone from Sopore Electronics, Main Chowk Sopore, with a cash memo dated 07/07/2014, for Rs 5,900. However, the phone malfunctioned after a few days of purchase.
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The complainant then approached Samsung Galaxy Center in Baramulla on 20/07/2014, but the phone remained unrepaired instead they formatted the memory card. Subsequently, the Complainant moved to the service center on 25/07/2014 which yielded no better results, and he was left with a non-functional phone.
Stating that, the issue disrupted his academic pursuits as a student at Kashmir University, rendering him unable to afford a replacement.
The Consumer Forum found the opposite parties, in this case, guilty of unfair trade practices, specifically selling a defective phone and failing to rectify the issue. As a result, they have been ordered to replace the phone and provide Irshad Ahmad Sheikh with Rs 30,000 in compensation within thirty days. Failure to comply will result in an annual interest rate of 9% applied to the compensation amount until it is paid.
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This ruling sets a criterion in favor of consumers, emphasizing the importance of accountability and fairness in the sale and servicing of consumer electronics. It underscores the significance of the Consumer Protection Act in safeguarding the rights and interests of consumers, ensuring they receive the quality products and services they rightfully expect.
According to eyewitnesses, a speeding Sumo vehicle coming from Upper Rajwar hit the man identified as Ali Mohammad Dar, a resident of Lachipora. They said that shortly after the accident, the injured man was transported to the Associated Hospital Handwara, where on-duty doctors declared him brought dead.
An official at GMC Hospital Handwara confirmed that the man was brought dead to the hospital, and after completing the necessary legal formalities, the deceased’s body was handed over to his legal heirs.
Meanwhile, the police have also registered a case and initiated an investigation. A senior police official also confirmed the accident and stated that an investigation in this regard has been initiated.
They identified the accused as Irshad Ahmad Langoo S/o Bashir Ahmed Langoo R/o Hamdaniya Colony Bemina.
Case under FIR No. 97/2023 u/s 376 of IPC, sections 5(N), 6 of POCSO Act registered in Bemina police station, they said.
Srinagar police on X informed, “One Irshad Ahmad Langoo S/o Bashir Ahmed Langoo R/o Hamdaniya Colony arrested for raping a minor girl. FIR No. 97/2023 u/s 376 of IPC, sections 5(N), 6 of POCSO Act registered in Bemina PS.”
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One Irshad Ahmad Langoo S/o Bashir Ahmed Langoo R/o Hamdaniya Colony arrested for raping a minor girl. FIR No. 97/2023 u/s 376 of IPC, sections 5(N), 6 of POCSO Act registered in Bemina PS. pic.twitter.com/vtBoCh2TI3— Srinagar Police (@SrinagarPolice) October 4, 2023