Harassment: Panel to write to CM on plaint by women staff

A group of Vidhana Soudha women employees have lodged an official complaint with the Karnataka State Commission for Women charging sexual and professional harassment by Legislative Assembly Secretary (in-charge) S Murthy.

Commission Chairperson Nagalakshmi Bai said that she will immediately write to both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Legislative Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad, seeking action against Murthy.

She also said that the Commission would enquire into the matter. "I will write to the chief minister and the Speaker tomorrow itself and ask for their immediate intervention. I will also get a report from the Assembly secretariat and enquire into the accusations. The matter has to be set right as the women have been enduring harassment and humiliation for the last two years. Many of them have 20 to 30 years of experience, and it is important that there is a safe and conducive work environment," she said.

Bai also said that this is the first time that the Commission has received such a complaint from women employees working in the Vidhana Soudha.

The women who have formed the  Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretariat Women Employees' Association, have collectively submitted the complaint. They have  sought an enquiry and disciplinary action against Murthy.

One among them has stated that she has been subjected to sexual harassment by Murthy.

Stating that they work under fear and trepidation, the women have also said that Murthy abuses them verbally using profanities. They have also said that they have been sidelined by Murthy because of their gender.