Harassment case : HC directs p’yat to submit CCTV footage

Panaji: The Bombay high court has directed the secretary of a panchayat in Salcete to submit to the court CCTV footage from the panchayat office for the past six months in a sealed cover.

A petition was filed by a woman panch member alleging harassment by male members of the panchayat. The HC issued notice to the panchayat through its secretary in the matter.

The division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar directed the secretary of the panchayat to transfer the CCTV data on the DVR maintained in the panchayat between Oct 1, 2025, till April 6.

“The same shall be transferred to a pen-drive and shall be filed under sealed cover before this court by the next date of hearing,” the court stated.

“We request the director of panchayats to oversee the process of creating a copy of the DVR for the said dates,” the HC further stated.

The woman panch is seeking action for atrocities against her. She also sought directions to make the CCTV cameras functional in the panchayat office for the security of the complainant and other women.

She is also seeking action against them for failing to discharge their duties to protect the rights of women at the workplace in compliance with Supreme Court orders.

She is also seeking directions to impose penalty for failing to constitute an internal complaints committee at the panchayat as per Section 26 of the PoSH Act, 2013, as well as disciplinary action for supervisory negligence.