Mysuru medical officer sentenced to 2 years for  sexually harassing nurse

Lawrence Milton| TNN |

MYSURU: Seven years after a medical officer was accused of harassment by a nurse in her death note, the II additional district and session court on Wednesday awarded him two years in jail and fined him with Rs 3.25 lakh. HB Mamatha, who worked as nurse on contract, ended life by consuming tablets at Hanagod primary health centre (PHC), Hunsur, on January 6, 2010.

In her death note, she had accused medical officer Harish, who was then working at Bilikere PHC, responsible for her extreme step.

HD Ananda Kumar, public prosecutor, told TOI that Mamatha had worked earlier under Harish at Bilikere PHC during when the medical officer sexually harassed her at work. She then had recorded a conversation of Harish and then lodged a complaint with District health authorities against the medical officer of harassment.

Instead ensuring safety to complainant, district health authorities, after an inquiry into the allegations, transferred Mamatha to Hanagod PHC, a faraway place as ‘punishment’ for complaining against medical officer. Her ordeal however didn’t end there. Medical officer Harish continued to harass her and was demanding to handover the voice record to him. When she didn’t agree, Harish with his influence ensured that she doesn’t get any facility at the quarters or at work place.

Mamatha unable to bear unrelenting harassment ended her life at Hanagod in January 2010, the public prosecutor explained.

Initially, Harish was booked for abetting suicide but later the court tried him under IPC section 354 and 323 for outraging the modesty of woman and voluntarily causing hurt. Court judge Vijaykumar Ananda Shetty has ordered to pay Rs 3 lakh to the next of kin of Mamatha from the fine amount. Though Harish sought time to appeal against the judgment, the court sent him to jail. Harish was out on bail and has continued work in Mysuru. District health officer B Basavaraj said Harish was presently working at Thippur PHC in KR Nagar taluk.

http://zeenews.india.com/india/sexual-harassment-case-info-must-be-furnished-to-victim-within-48-hours-cic-2000030.html