Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 25: Karnataka State Commission for Women has been approached by a section of women employees working at Vidhana Soudha, complaining of having undergone sexual and professional harassment under the hands of assembly secretary. They have accused secretary in-charge of legislative assembly, S Murthy, of ill-treating them.

Chairperson of the commission, Nagalakshmi Bai, stated that the commission will take up the issue immediately with the chief minister (CM) and assembly speaker, asking them to initiate action against the accused. She added that the commission on its own will also look into the matter.

S Murthy - File photo

"We will immediately write to both Siddaramaiah and Koliwad seeking their urgent attention to the issue. I will seek report from the assembly secretariat and investigate into the charges. This matter needs to be attended immediately as these women have been through this ordeal for the last two years. Several of the complainants have put in two to three decades of government service, and it is our responsibility to provide them a safe and friendly ambience in the offices" she explained.

She noted that this is the first time that the commission has received such a complaint from Vidhan Soudha employees. The harassed women employees, who have come together under the umbrella of 'Karnataka Legislative Secretariat Women Employees' Association', in their common complaint, have sought a probe into the issues raised by them and initiation of disciplinary action against S Murthy. While the general allegation is of professional harassment, one of the complainants has alleged having undergone sexual harassment at the secretary's hands.

The employees have said that they are going through stress, fear and constant apprehension on account of abusive language used by Murthy, who they say, has been treating women employees with contempt because of their gender.