Satarupa Sadhukhan v. Visva Bharati And ORS

WPA 1772 of 2023 Satarupa Sadhukhan Vs.

31-01-2023 AKG Ct. 238 Visva-Bharati & Ors.

Mr. Indranil Roy, Mr. Soumya Bhattacharya, Mr. Atanu Bhattacharya ...for the Petitioner Mr. Dhilon Sengupta, Mr. Ayan Chakraborty, Ms. Sohini Mukherjee ...for the Respondent No. 6 Ms. Sananda Ganguly ...for the Respondent Nos. 1 to 5.

It is the grievance of the petitioner that though she lodged a complaint under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 before the university, till date, no steps have been taken by the university. The petitioner submits that the complaint must be taken to its logical conclusion. The university suggests that an enquiry has already been conducted by the Internal Complaints Committee and the proceedings will be concluded by the end of February, 2023.

The private respondent suggests that the complaint is barred by limitation under Section 9 (1) of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 since no incident took place even six months preceding the date of complaint.

In view of the stand of the university, I am not inclined to keep this writ petition pending. The university will

conclude the proceedings by the end of February, 2023. It will be open for the private respondent to take the point of limitation before the appropriate authority at the appropriate stage if he is aggrieved by any order passed under the said Act against him.

With the aforesaid observations, WPA 1772 of 2023 is disposed of.

Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties expeditiously on compliance of usual legal formalities.

(Kausik Chanda, J.)