The Supreme Court, on Friday, pulled up the Telangana government after it cited local elections as an excuse to seek adjournment in a case. .The Supreme Court took strong exception to the same stating that the "Court cannot be treated like this."The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Ravindra Bhat stated that to avoid embarrassment to the State, it will not record the reason cited by the government for adjournment.."We deprecate the request made by the counsel for the State of Telangana for an adjournment in this case and that too for a period of four weeks. To avoid embarrassment to the State, we refrain from recording the reasons mentioned across the Bar for that adjournment," the order said..The court was hearing a petition relating to the suicide of an employee of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The petition, filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, has sought transfer of the probe from the State police to the CBI after allegations surfaced that woman committed suicide due to harassment at her workplace..On December 4, the Telangana police was to apprise the top court of the progress in investigation into the case. However, advocate appearing for State of Telangana requested for an adjournment citing "Hyderabad Municipal elections" when the Court expressed its displeasure. .It was in July this year that the court had issued notice to the State in this case. The court also went on to add that the reason stated for seeking adjournment was indicative of insensitivity in the investigati."The reasons stated indicates the insensitivity with which the investigation is progressing in this case. We say no more for the time being," the court said..The court has asked the Home Secretary, State of Telangana to personally look into this aspect and issue appropriate directions to all concerned..The petition has alleged that the woman was forced to commit suicide in October last year as she was “sexually harassed” and “mentally tortured” by a superior officer and some other office colleagues at Hyderabad.It has been claimed that the State police has not yet arrested the accused and no charge sheet has been filed despite a lapse of over eight months..The petitioner has sought the top court’s direction to BHEL to “immediately initiate appropriate enquiry under the applicable departmental rules and also under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013” against the accused persons in a time bound manner and under the court’s supervision..Referring to an alleged suicide note of the victim and her last telephonic conversation with her sister, the plea claimed that it categorically established that some of her office colleagues had subjected her to harassment due to which she was forced to commit suicide.It is the petitioner's case that the State police is not conducting fair investigation in the case and thus, the probe should be transferred to the CBI or any other independent Central agency..[Read order]
The Supreme Court, on Friday, pulled up the Telangana government after it cited local elections as an excuse to seek adjournment in a case. .The Supreme Court took strong exception to the same stating that the "Court cannot be treated like this."The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Ravindra Bhat stated that to avoid embarrassment to the State, it will not record the reason cited by the government for adjournment.."We deprecate the request made by the counsel for the State of Telangana for an adjournment in this case and that too for a period of four weeks. To avoid embarrassment to the State, we refrain from recording the reasons mentioned across the Bar for that adjournment," the order said..The court was hearing a petition relating to the suicide of an employee of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The petition, filed by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, has sought transfer of the probe from the State police to the CBI after allegations surfaced that woman committed suicide due to harassment at her workplace..On December 4, the Telangana police was to apprise the top court of the progress in investigation into the case. However, advocate appearing for State of Telangana requested for an adjournment citing "Hyderabad Municipal elections" when the Court expressed its displeasure. .It was in July this year that the court had issued notice to the State in this case. The court also went on to add that the reason stated for seeking adjournment was indicative of insensitivity in the investigati."The reasons stated indicates the insensitivity with which the investigation is progressing in this case. We say no more for the time being," the court said..The court has asked the Home Secretary, State of Telangana to personally look into this aspect and issue appropriate directions to all concerned..The petition has alleged that the woman was forced to commit suicide in October last year as she was “sexually harassed” and “mentally tortured” by a superior officer and some other office colleagues at Hyderabad.It has been claimed that the State police has not yet arrested the accused and no charge sheet has been filed despite a lapse of over eight months..The petitioner has sought the top court’s direction to BHEL to “immediately initiate appropriate enquiry under the applicable departmental rules and also under the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013” against the accused persons in a time bound manner and under the court’s supervision..Referring to an alleged suicide note of the victim and her last telephonic conversation with her sister, the plea claimed that it categorically established that some of her office colleagues had subjected her to harassment due to which she was forced to commit suicide.It is the petitioner's case that the State police is not conducting fair investigation in the case and thus, the probe should be transferred to the CBI or any other independent Central agency..[Read order]
