IRS officer alleges her senior, an IAS, of sexual harassment, case lands at High Court

Disclaimer: Photo does not pertain to this case

VS Bhaskar, a 1985 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS and senior officer in Nandan Nilekani-run UIDAI, has approached Andhra Pradesh high court to quash a CAT order on a sexual harassment case.
It all began when S Padmaja, an IRS officer holding the rank of additional director general in UIDAI, claimed that Bhaskar was harassing her mentally and had even tried to physically assault her. It was alleged that Bhaskar, her senior, used abusive language, threats etc. over phone when he was drunk.
Ms Padmaja went on leave and a committee looked into the matter. The Hyderabad Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) recently ordered Bhaskar’s repatriation to his parent cadre of Assam and Meghalaya.
Bhaskar claimed that Ms Padmaja approached CAT only to harass him as she was not probably happy with the kind of work allotted to her.
According to a DoPT memo, the following constitutes “sexual harassment” in government:
a) Physical contacts and advances;
b) Demand or request for sexual favours
c) Sexually coloured remarks
d) Showing any pornography, or
(e) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature
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b) BB Kaura, a Central Secretariat Service officer, has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of telecom till he retires in November 2013.