Anantnag, October 28: On the directions of Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat Office, Health and Medical Education Department on Wednesday ordered a probe into sexual harassment charges against Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo.
Lieutenant Governor’s Principal Secretary Nitishwar Kumar (IAS) has written to Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education to get the allegations probed by ‘Internal Complaint Committee’ and submit a report within 7 days. He has also stayed the transfer order of the female consultant, who was transferred to SDH Kunzar by the incumbent Director Health without following norms.
The ‘Internal Complaint Committee’ which has been constituted to probe into sexual harassment complaints in the Health Department is headed by Satvir Kour Sudan-Director General P&S, Health and Medical Education Department and its members are Dr Samia Rashid, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Reenu Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu.
As per reports, a female consultant has leveled serious charges of sexual harassment against incumbent Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo in Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat Office.
“That suddenly, on 13th December I received a call from him at 8:30 PM when he was drunk. He started with some nonsense about some obscure drug list, in reply to which I repeatedly told him that I had no such list. However, he was repeatedly pleading with me to call him. ‘…..Mujhe Phone Karana’ were his precise words. I was curt with him and I dropped the phone when he used unparliamentarily language. However, instead of feeling ashamed of his act, he started bullying me and harassing me from the very next day,” reads the complaint, a copy of which lies with this reporter
The Complainant, who is working as Consultant MCH in Directorate of Health Services from past 23 years, has stated in her complaint that she was working as Epidemiologist Kashmir and State TB Officer when Dr Samir Mattoo assumed the charge of Director Health Services Kashmir.
In her long letter, the Complainant has cited multiple incidents when she was harassed by Dr Samir Mattoo.
“In retaliation, on 15th December 2019, he issued an order removing me from the post of Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Program,” she alleges.
The Complainant has said that when she didn’t oblige him, he withdrew her official vehicle for no rhyme or reason. She alleges that the accused would often force her to meet in his office and would insist her to stay with him without any reason. “Why can’t you sit in my office? Can’t you sit with me for ten minutes, he would plead.
She has stated that Director once made her wait outside SKICCC un-necessarily for hours in chilly weather and even forced her to report at his Gupkar based official residence.
The Complainant has stated that she was forced by his regular harassment and hostile behavior to leave a new building, though it was equipped with all the facilities.
“Interestingly, Dr Samir Mattoo was repeatedly asking me to go and meet higher officers in Secretariat whenever, I had a chance to visit Jammu,” she alleges in the compliant.
She says when the Director crossed the limits, she applied for the post of Surveillance Medical Officer in WHO and had been accepted. “My salary there was around 1.13 lakh rupees, which is far less what I am drawing from the current job. But the harassment was so distressing that I was ready to leave. Dr Mattoo didn’t relieve me and I think he wanted to ensure that I suffer utter humiliation so that I don’t speak against him and comply.”
The Complainant has said that after the Covid-19 pandemic breakout, Director Health Services Kashmir works from his Gupkar based home and he ensures that anyone who has some work must visit his home. “He even demoted me,” she has stated.
“He is trying to harass me mentally and trying to destroy my career using his superior position to threaten me because I didn’t succumb to his unwelcome behavior. I feel unsafe working in the hostile environment in the department and there is great danger to my dignity and well-being and it is again requested to take this complaint seriously and stringent action be initiated against this man (Samir Mattoo) who has muddied the name and stature of Director Health Services,” reads her compliant.
No comments:
Post a Comment