Govt ‘violates’ norms, names sexual harassment victim 15 times in order
The state government had named a victim of sexual harassment in an official notification, issued in connection with the dismissal of HCS officer Reagan Kumar from service, ignoring the Supreme Court guidelines and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
The notification, issued by the Deputy Secretary of the Personnel Department on April 22, named the victim, who levelled allegations against the officer, 15 times, in violation of the norms governing the protection of the victim’s identity.
Hemant Kumar, an advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has shot off a representation to the Governor, Chief Minister, Haryana Human Rights Commission and Haryana State Commission for Women, alleging “clear violation of Section 16 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013”. “The notification violated various orders of the Supreme Court, High Courts and other judicial courts/quasi-judicial bodies to protect the identity of aggrieved female victims/survivors of sexual harassment by not disclosing/revealing their (actual) name,” he said, demanding meticulous compliance of the order.
An official of UTKARSH Society had levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Reagan Kumar, the then Administrative Officer-cum-Secretary and CEO of the Society, on May 29, 2018.
Following the inquiry report of the Internal Complaints Committee, disciplinary proceedings under Rule 7 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 2016, were initiated against Kumar on November 30, 2018. After pursuing his representation, the competent authority, on February 20, 2023, awarded a punishment of “dismissal from service” to Kumar, which shall ordinarily be a disqualification for future employment under the government.
He was compulsorily retired from service on January 29, 2025. The April 22 order said the “dismissal from service would be effective from the date of his compulsory retirement, i.e. January 29, 2025, which would operate prospectively.”
What Section 16 of Act says
“Notwithstanding anything contained in the Right to Information Act, 2005, the contents of the complaint made under Section 9, the identity and addresses of the aggrieved woman, respondent and witnesses, any information relating to conciliation and inquiry proceedings, recommendations of the Internal Committee or the Local Committee the action taken by the employer under the provisions of this Act shall not be published, communicated or made known to the public, press and media in any manner.”
Case timeline
• May 29, 2018: Official levels sexual harassment charges against Reagan Kumar
• November 30, 2018: Disciplinary proceedings initiated against the officer
• February 20, 2023: Government awards “dismissal from service” punishment to Kumar
• January 29, 2025: Accused compulsorily retired from service
• April 22, 2025: Final order about dismissal from service
Haryana Tribune