The Office of the Provincial Ombudsperson Monday announced that 12 government officers have been removed from service under the Harassment Act, 2010.
The highest penalty of removal from service has been awarded to the officials after conducting detailed inquiries, fulfilling all the legal aspects of received cases and multiple hearings from both sides, an official press release issued by the Ombudsman Office said.
Provincial Ombudsperson Mrs Rukhsana Gillani has expressed concern over the rising number of harassment cases during the year 2020. “A huge number of cases of harassment were received which is alarming, though a positive sign is that at least women are no more afraid of anyone and are having serious concerns about their safety at workplace”, the official release quoted Mrs Gillani as having said.
Giving details of the cases, Punjab Ombudsperson said that an application was received by a lady veterinary officer working in Livestock Department Punjab against a Grade-20 officer.
The accused was habitual of using abusive language with his subordinate female staff. On one event, he ordered females to come well prepared and in good-looking dress, so that Ministers, VIP’s visiting the seminar may be pleased.
When all the female staff refused to take his orders, just to manipulate them he closed the daycare centre which was working smoothly.
Another subordinate lady was given hard duty just few weeks before her expected delivery, she suffered miscarriage.
On the complaint of two lady officers, the inquiry was conducted and after cross examining the viewpoints and all the evidence received from both sides the officer was found guilty of harassment and was awarded the penalty of removal of services by the Ombudsperson Punjab.
In another case, Director Agriculture Department Punjab was compulsorily retired from service by Ombudsperson. The accused was recently promoted as Director in 2020.
He became interested too much in all subordinate ladies especially officers of 17 scales. He repeatedly contacted them through telephone and invited them to attend meetings during virus days in his office.
He would call them “sweet girls ” “angry young bachelor”. Ladies working in remote cities were invited to attend training during corona days; training was arranged for only few selected ladies.
Thereafter, the officer directed all young ladies to attend a meeting at Murree along with night stay. All the ladies were also directed to join his personal WhatsApp group; which followed unethical talks, information and jokes were shared on WhatsApp.
He also directed that no one can leave the group. When all the ladies refused to fulfill his desires, he threatened to spoil their ACRs etc. Finally, four ladies jointly lodged complaints against the accused and proved their allegations through documents, audio and video recordings.
The Ombudsperson eventually convicted the accused and awarded him punishment of compulsory retirement.
Mrs Gillani said that workplace harassment had always challenged the autocracy of females as a workforce. “To revitalize the energies of these fifty one percent of the population ought to be the main agenda of every organization”, she added.
