SXXXX Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The present Civil Writ Petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is filed seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to provide redressal to the petitioner by supplying the complete report dtd. 2/5/2024 (Annexure P-1) along with all annexures and the recommendations of the departmental committee constituted vide order dtd. 16/11/2023 (Annexure P-11) on her complaint of sexual harassment; further directing the respondents to accept the petitioner's resignation dtd. 14/2/2024 (Annexure P-3) and to release her pending salary and all consequential service benefits including TA, DA, outstanding dues, gratuity and NPS contributions.

(2.) The petitioner was appointed as a Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) with the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) in the year 2012 and served at various Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas including JNV Poonch (J&K), JNV Butana, Sonipat (Haryana) and lastly JNV Karnal (Haryana). Throughout her service, the petitioner discharged her duties diligently and her performance stood duly reflected in her Annual Performance Appraisal Reports.

(3.) During her tenure, particularly at JNV Butana and JNV Karnal, the petitioner was subjected to a hostile work environment, including discriminatory allocation of duties and denial of basic service-related entitlements. The petitioner raised multiple complaints before the competent authorities regarding sexual harassment and related misconduct at the workplace. While certain committees were purportedly constituted and actions such as suspension or dismissal of some individuals were undertaken.