Harassment case: Families demand legal action

When the officials were not available to receive their petition, they decided to approach the railways GM and move through court for filing a case against the accused.

On September 18, as many as 18 grade IV women employees lodged a complaint with the DRM, Tiruchy against V Manivannan, a senior section engineer from Mayiladuthurai section. The women alleged that he was in the habit of seeking sexual favour from women employees. 

An inquiry panel was also set up and the women appeared before the Prevention of Women Harassment Committee headed by Dr Lakshmi. Manivannan was just transferred without any further action. However, railways had transferred all the 18 women victims to various stations. 

Family members of the victims, who came to Tiruchy to seek action, said that the inquiry committee members Dr Lakshmi and Sankaran had behaved in a hostile manner during the inquiry. “Though the victims had submitted a letter to the administration stating that they had no faith in the committee, their appeals were ignored, they alleged. 

They said that some of the victims were even assaulted by some anti-social elements for lodging a complaint against Manivannan.

Subsequently, the affected employees demanded the authorities to quash the inquiry committee report and conduct a re-inquiry. They also demanded to dissolve the present prevention of women harassment committee. “We have even approached the police but they have refused to accept the complaint. Therefore, we have decided to approach the court for action against Manivannan,” said the husband of one of the victims.

Meanwhile, the DREU staged a demonstration in the evening demanding action against Manivannan. Working president of DREU Janakiraman led the protest. Members from CITU and allied unions participated in the demonstration and demanded a zonal level inquiry into the issue. They also demanded to retain all the 18 employees in the same station where they had been previously employed.