Govt Animal Husbandry officer assaults women staff

Puducherry, Apr 26: Madras High Court on its summons issued to P. Padmanabhan, director of the Animal Husbandry Department, to probe a sexual harassment complaint lodged against him by an assistant veterinary surgeon.

The woman official had lodged a complaint with the complaints committee headed by chairperson Vidyaa Ramkumar on March 31 alleging sexual harassment at the workplace by Mr. Padmanaban.

Meanwhile, Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has directed the Chief Secretary to relieve Padmanabhan from the post.

Ms. Ramkumar said the committee had summoned the accused to appear before it on Tuesday.

However, Mr. Padmanaban had obtained an interim stay from the Madras High Court to the summons, she said.

As many as 27 witnesses, including employees of the Animal Husbandry Department, had deposed before the committee and submitted their replies too. The complainant continued to face harassment till she lodged a complaint with the committee. The victim had also submitted an audio recording of the accused's conversation with her.


Ms. Ramkumar said the accused got in touch with a senior official of the Animal Husbandry Department in Tamil Nadu where the victim's husband was working as a veterinarian and tried to persuade the latter to withdraw the complaint.