The Delhi High Court has said that a married officer being in a relationship with another woman and sending her obscene messages is not appropriate and does not befit a uniformed officer. The court has made this remark while upholding the punishment of pay cut of a CISF sub-inspector accused of sexual harassment.
The accused uniformed officer is accused of sending obscene messages and harassing a female colleague by phone. The female filed complaint against the officer and a departmental action was taken against him. The officer challenged this action in the High Court and now the High Court has dismissed his petition.
In her complaint, the woman alleged that the officer used offensive language during a conversation with her and even entered her home with malicious intent. Based on her complaint, a departmental inquiry was conducted, and charges were framed against the officer, and the inquiry committee imposed a sentence.
The Delhi High Court bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Vimal Kumar Yadav delivered the verdict on September 22, which was uploaded on the court’s website on October 14. In its decision, the court said, “The Inquiry and Revisional Authority has rightly held that the petitioner, a member of a uniformed service, was previously married. He was having an affair with another woman and sent obscene messages to another woman. This act was absolutely wrong. This act is not suitable for a uniformed officer.”
The court dismissed the officer’s appeal against the sentence, stating that the punishment was appropriate considering the wrongdoing and that he had been treated “too leniently.” The sentence includes a pay cut for two years, with no pay increases during this period. After completion of this period, the reduction will also result in a delay in future pay increases.
The Delhi High Court stated in its decision that the court found no flaws in the investigation process and that principles of natural justice were followed.
