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Unhappy with inaction on molestation plaint, doctor on protest outside Faridkot DC's office

BATHINDA: Unhappy with no action being taken on her three-mother-old complaint of sexual harassment, a 46-year-old senior doctor of a medical college here started a protest on Saturday to seek action against a senior doctor who made unwanted advances at her


As she held a red and white flag and sat outside the Faridkot deputy commissioner’s (DC’s) office, the woman — an MD in community medicine — was joined by over 50 activisits of Punjab Students Union, Naujawan Bharat Sabha and a farmer organisation.

The woman, a single parent and mother of two, said she was a senior tutor at a college which is a constituent of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). Earlier, the protesters tried to enter the DC’s office, but were stopped by police. They then sat outside the office.

She had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against a senior doctor of the college on August 20, which hs since then being probed by the prevention of sexual harassment committee headed by an additional deputy commissioner. The woman was appointed as a senior tutor by BFUHS on September 18. Earlier, she had worked as a medical officer (MO).

“After completing my post graduation in community medicine in June 2019, I wanted the job of a senior tutor. For it, I needed a recommendation from a senior doctor. When I went to him, he tried to sexually harass me. I resisted his move and, on August 20, wrote a complaint to the university, DC, SSP, Punjab women’s commission and the Nation Commission for Women, but I am still waiting for justice,” she told TOI.

She said she was asked to wait till November 15, but nothing had happened.


PSU activist Keshav Azad and Krantikari Kisan Union vice-president Rajinder Singh said “nearly 3 months had passed since the complaint was filed, but no action had been taken against the accused. “It shows the kind of attitude that authorities have towards the protection of women. We will support her protest if justice is not provided soon,” they said.

Faridkot deputy commissioner Kumar Saurabh Raj, when contacted, said complaints of this nature were completed in 90 days. “The inquiry which will be completed before the stipulated time of 90 days and appropriate action will be taken upon completion of inquiry,” Raj said.

The 90-day period, going by August 20 as the day of complaint, ends on Monday. Faridkot SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi too promised action.

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