Friday, 30 August 2013

HC initiates enquiry into ashram issues

DC | J. Stalin | 30 min 11 sec ago

 
Chennai: The Madras HC on Friday appointed P.R. Raman, former judge of the Kerala high court, as the enquiry officer to enquire if the all­egations of sexual hara­ss­ment in the Sri Aurobi­ndo As­hram in Pudu­che­rry are true.

Passing interim orders on a petition from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust by its managing director C. Manoj Das Gupta, Jus­tice K.K. Sasidharan said Raman would also enq­uire into whether there was any truth in the allegations regarding violation of human rights to the ashram inmates; or those of misappropriation of ashram funds.

Advocate Sathya Sri Priya Easwaran from Coc­hin was appointed as the enquiry assistant to assist Raman record the sta­te­ments of female inm­ates. The former judge was requested to submit his report to the court. Post the matter on November 4, Justice Sas­idharan added.

Directing the Puduc­her­ry government to provide all facilities, including pe­r­sonal security to the en­qu­iry officer and assista­nt, the judge said the as­hr­am inmates should be gi­ven full freedom to exp­ress their views and grievan­ces during the enquiry.

The Puducherry collector was directed to hand ov­­er all the complaints he had received against the as­hram to the enquiry officer immediately, the judge added. Pursuant to the compl­aints of some of the ash­ra­m­ites and local legislator As­­hok Anand, alleging var­ious acts detrimental to their peaceful living in the ashram, the deputy col­lector (revenue) sum­mo­­ned the petitioner and made an attempt to publish a notice on the notice board of the ashram soliciting the inmates to disclose any information that they would like to in the matter. Challenging the initiation of enquiry, the pe­ti­tioner filed the present petition.

States: Tamil Nadu

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