MSHRC Directs Maha Police To Pay Compensation Of Rs 10L To Two Women For Failing To File Sexual Harassment Complaints

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) in its recent order has recommended that the police should pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to two women whose sexual harassment complaint was not filed by the police. In one case, the complaint was not filed for at least 12 years.

The complainants alleged that they were sexually harassed by the principals of two colleges in Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai. The accused, who was arrested in Jan and Feb 2020 after two separate complaints, has now died.

After the death of the accused, the case against him has gone into cold storage. According to a report in the Times of India, the State Rights Commission has also directed the colleges to take action against the management for preventing the victims from registering complaints.

“Despite making a cognizable case, the police took its sweet time in registering a case against the accused. In one case, he filed 100 complaints and the Prime Minister’s Office intervened to register a case. In another case, the National Commission for Women (NCW) had to step in to help the victim,” said MA Sayeed, acting MSHRC chairperson, in the order.

Meanwhile, the Commission has ordered an Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to forward the complaint to the Mumbai Police Commissioner for compliance.

The order stated that the compensation should be recovered from the “erring officers” and collected by their respective DCPs.

The MSHRC has also recommended that the supervisory and disciplinary authorities of the accused officer could initiate departmental inquiry against them for dereliction of duty.

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