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Maheshwar Mohanty appears before SHRC

BHUBANESWAR: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) probing into the sexual harassment allegations made by suspended woman marshal Gayatri Panda against former speaker of the Orissa Legislative Assembly Maheswar Mohanty, here on Saturday recorded statements of both the parties.

While Mr. Mohanty, who was himself a practicing lawyer, handled his own case, lawyers of Ms. Panda made a written submission before SHRC Chairperson Justice R. K Patra.

Speaking to media persons, U. K Mishra, counsel for the suspended woman marshal, said that Ms. Panda was first suspended “unconstitutionally” while no departmental inquiry committee was constituted to probe into the charges against her.

“Moreover, the State Assembly should have instituted an inquiry committee as per Supreme Court’s Vishakha guidelines on sexual harassment at workplace.

But the procedure was not followed. It created a sense of suspicion as to how matters were handled,” he said. The lawyer also claimed that they had enough official records to suggest that Ms. Panda was “harassed” during her service period.

The former speaker did not elaborate what had transpired in the court.

SHRC chairperson said that the commission recorded statement of both the parties and fixed the next date of hearing on August 9.

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Maheshwar Mohanty appears before SHRC

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