The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued notice to Punjab government, principal secretary (home), police commissioner and principal of DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology (DAVIET) following a petition filed by an assistant professor of the institute over sexual harassment complaint against the college head.
The complainant contended that she had been left "remediless" despite specific provisions on sexual harassment of women at workplace as given in the Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act 2013.
She urged the court to direct the local police authorities to initiate criminal proceedings on her complaint filed in December last year. Her counsel said no criminal action had been started so far.
On hearing the petition, justice Jaswant Singh issued notices and fixed April 28 as the next date of hearing.
The victim had accused the principal of harassing her by using unprofessional conduct during a meeting at workplace.
The victim had also written to the college grievances redressal committee and the women's cell of the city police against the principal but no action was initiated on her complaint.
Earlier, the police had asked former additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira to conduct an inquiry on the victim's complaint that a male police official should be removed as it was in violation of the guidelines.
The city police had formed team comprising women personnel comprising ACP Richa Agnihotri as the investigation officer and ACP (special wing) Som Nate.
Earlier, the police had asked former additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira to conduct an inquiry on the victim's complaint that a male police official should be removed as it was in violation of the guidelines.
The city police had formed team comprising women personnel comprising ACP Richa Agnihotri as the investigation officer and ACP (special wing) Som Nate.
It has been learnt that the accused principal had links with the top police brass as a result of which investigation was withheld for almost a month.