Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 20: After more than 9 months, the former Director of Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Samir Mattoo has been given a clean chit by the Complaint Committee for Sexual harassment of Women at Work Place in the alleged sexual harassment charge levelled against him by a consultant lady doctor working in the department in October last year.
As per an exhaustive 32-page report of the Complaint Committee which has recorded the entire case as well as the testimonies of the witnesses, the charges levelled against Dr Mattoo, the committee stated, have not been proven.
While there was a long list of the charges that the lady doctor had levelled against the former director, however, the same, as per the committee’s report, were not proven, keeping in view the pleadings, statements of the witnesses and the material available on record.
The witnesses that have been interviewed by the committee and their statements recorded with regard to the allegations levelled by the lady doctor against Dr Mattoo include Dr Bashir Chalkoo (in charge Deputy Directors, HQ), Dr Nishat Shaheen and Dr Sayed Manzoor Qadri.
The committee headed by Satvir Kour Sudan, Director General, P&S, Health and Medical Education Department in its conclusion has stated that the allegations levelled against Dr Mattoo—who is currently serving as Director, J&K AIDS Control Society—have not been proved while recommending no further action.
“From perusal of complaint, reply by the respondent, testimony of witnesses in shape of duly sworn in affidavits and material available on record, the committee arrives at the conclusion that allegation against the respondent has not been proved. It is accordingly recommended that no action is required to be taken in the matter,” the report concludes.
Regarding independent witnesses, who approached the committee, the reports stated, does not have any mention in the list of witnesses provided by the complainant or the respondent besides providing sufficient opportunities to provide a list of witnesses. “As such, the committee did not felt it appropriate to call the independent witness.”
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel