Sexual Harassment in uniform

 

 

Whenever mention has to be made of the progress of Indian women, the first examples cited are of late Kalpana Chawla, who journeyed into space, and Kiran Bedi, who was the first woman Indian Police Service officer. And, of course, mention is made with pride that Indian women are also part of the Indian defence forces. However, it is never easy to break the glass ceiling for a woman and fight shoulder to shoulder with men if the playing field is not level.

The most well-known case of sexual harassment in which the woman dared to protest was that of Roopan Deol Bajaj versus top cop and saviour of Punjab against terrorism, K.P.S. Gill. The slap on the back was what led to it and it took the complainant 17 long years to win a legal battle.

FACTFILE

It took Roopan Deol Bajaj 17 years to win the legal battle against K.P.S. Gill.

Maj. Gen. Lal is the first Indian Army officer to face charges of sexual harassment.



However, the case of sexual harassment in which Captain Neha Rawat complained that Maj. Gen A. K. Lal had misbehaved with her on the pretext of teaching her yoga and meditation, taking advantage of the fact that she was serving under him, seems to have taken a quick turn. He was removed as commander of the strategically located 3 Infantry Division at Leh in early September after a woman officer accused him of misconduct and is facing court martial now. This happened after a court of inquiry, headed by 15 Corps commander Lt Gen A. S. Sekhon, found Lal prima facie guilty of the charges levelled against him by Captain Rawat.

On the other hand, Silpi Lal Sharma, elder daughter of Maj Gen Lal, and his sister Archana Sharma alleged that Rawat was posted at the 3 Infantry Division only three months ago, and had already received three warnings regarding her misconduct. It may be argued that Captain Rawat has the right of choice and is not game for everyone. Maj. Gen. Lal is the first Indian Army officer to be facing such a charge.