MPs seek action against CBSE official accused of sexual harassment

ALLAHABAD: The issue of regional officer (RO) of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Allahabad region, S Devadas, accused of sexually harassing two women, one being his subordinate posted at Allahabad and another a primary teacher (PRT) of a school in Moradabad affiliated to the Board, has been raised by MPs. Two MPs have written to HRD minister M Mangapatiraju, seeking his intervention in the matter and removal of the accused from regional office.
The two women had lodged complaints with the higher authorities, alleging that they were subjected to sexual harassment by the RO. On the basis of the complaints, Devadas, who holds the rank of joint secretary, was served show cause notices. He is also facing two inquiries by Sexual Harassment and Complaints Committee of CBSE.
Two letters (No CBSE/Vig./F.13439/2013/V-(816-20, dated January 11 and CBSE/Vig.F.13442/2013/849-52, dated January 24) were issued to the RO, signed by CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi. Joshi had ordered two inquiries to probe into the allegations against Devadas.
In one complaint, dated December 26, 2012, a female teacher of Cosmopolitan Public School in Muradabad had accused the RO that first he pressurized her to give her mobile phone number to him when he was on inspection to her school. Later, Devadas called her up to visit him at the place he was staying at night. The teacher has also alleged that when she refused to come, the RO even offered her a job in Allahabad at a salary of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 per month.
Likewise, another woman official working at Allahabad has accused the regional officer of pressuring her to invite him for dinner and then proposing that they both go to a hotel for a dinner. The female official has alleged that the RO one day summoned her to the office at odd hours for a non-urgent work. The lady officer had also alleged other charges against the officer.
CBSE chairman Vineet Joshi has ordered inquiries by Sexual Harassment and Complaints Committee of CBSE. A retired additional secretary of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has been entrusted with the task of heading the inquiries against the RO while an executive member of ADHAAR and a retired deputy secretary of CVC are the other two members.
Later, the joint secretary of CBSE S P Rana has instructed the officials of CBSE (Allahabad regional office) to furnish all the phone call records of Devadas.
Samajwadi Party MP from Shahjahanpur Mithlesh Kumar had written to HRD minister on May 8, requesting him to take strict action against Devadas and transfer him to some other place.
Another MP has sought the attention of the HRD minister on the issue. SP MP from Kaiserganj Brijbhusan Sharan Singh has written to the HRD minister on May 10, requesting the minister to remove the accused and inquire every aspect of the complaints lodged by the two women employees.
Devadas said: "I don't have anything to say in this matter and it would be proper if Delhi office of CBSE is asked for comments."