Untold Story
of a Sexually Harassed Lady Revenue Inspector and Her saga of Struggle to get Justice
Dear friends
This case was presented in the Public Hearing
organised on “Status of Alleged Rape cases and Situation of
Rape Victims in Odisha” by Civil Society
Groups in Bhubaneswar on 29.12.17, as the
victim, a Dalit and Govt. employee presently
serving as Revenue Inspector under Gop
Tahasil of Puri district had refused to
be publicly exposed and present her
ordeal. She has run from pillar to
post to get justice , but in vain. Her
untold story which was presented
as one of the seven cases in the
Public Hearing is reproduced for reference of the readers seeking their
support to give her justice.
The Victim was working as Revenue Inspector in Badas
Circle under Kanas Tahasil of Puri
district. On 23.3.16, she had gone to Kanas Tahasil for official work. On that day, Sri Umakant Bal, senior clerk used
very slang language against her while appraising to Tahasildar about her
presence in the office. When she wanted
to know about the reason, Sri Bal got
enraged and displayed
very rude behaviour with casteist remarks against her. She also gave a push on her
chest which has been recorded in CCTV camera. She was humiliated and on her way
back to home, made a
call to Sri Sanjay Pratihari, Tahasilar, Kanas.
Tahasildar did not respond. Prior to
this incident, Sri Bal and Tahasildar had misbehaved her many times and sexual
remarks and compelling her to work in Tahasil office even up to 9 PM with much harassment and humiliation.
It is to be mentioned here that since
her joining, Sri Bal had been adopting various tricks to get closer and lure her for sexual benefit. He had also advised her to get closer to
Tahasildar and could take any benefits from him.
However, after getting humiliated
and harassed with sexual remarks,
at first she along with her mother went to meet
Sri Madhusudan Das , Sub-Collector, Puri
and filed complaint
against Sri Umakant Bal and Tahasildar. He assured her to solve the matter within 3 days
but did not take any steps till
6.4.2016.
On 7.4.16, the Victim personally met the
Collector, Puri and filed Complaint seeking
an inquiry and quick action against
the culprits. On 17.4.2016, she filed complaint to
Dr. Sarthak Sarangi, SP, Puri seeking an inquiry and action against
perpetrators of crime. Nothing happened. No inquiry conducted. Rather both of
them supported to Tahasildar.
25.4.17, she wrote a letter to Chief Minister, Odisha appraising him
about details of incident and sexual harassment caused to her and prayed for action against both Tahasildar and Head Clerk. On same day, he filed
complaint to Odisha Human Rights
Commission, National Commission for Women, New Delhi, State Commission for
Women, national Commission for Scheduled Caste and National Human Rights Commission, seeking an inquiry into it.
In the meantime, OHRC has closed the case on the
basis of report produced by SP, Puri.
NHRC had issued to Human Rights Protection Cell, Cuttack, Govt. of Odisha for inquiry.
Though HRPC conducted an inquiry, the inquiry report has not yet been
submitted to NHRC, New Delhi.
In the meantime, she had filed RTI to get CD of
recording of CCTV Camera which was
denied to her. Now she had been transferred to GOP Tahasil, Puri and still struggling
to get justice.
Pradip Pradhan
M-9937843482
Date-1.1.18
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