Junior Clerk transferred after NCHR notice on harassment report

The development follows a report published by Minute Mirror on Sept 03 highlighting the allegations, departmental proceedings and

CHAKWAL: The Punjab Higher Education Department has transferred a junior clerk of the Government Graduate College for Women, Chakwal, to Government Associate College, Choa Saidan Shah, following intervention by the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) over allegations of harassment and inappropriate conduct towards female staff.

The development follows a report published by Minute Mirror on Sept 03 highlighting the allegations, departmental proceedings and the continued posting of the official at the women’s college despite an inquiry having reportedly found him responsible for harassment, humiliating conduct and inappropriate behaviour towards female employees.

The NCHR subsequently took notice of the matter and sought a detailed report from the Punjab Higher Education Department regarding the inquiry and action taken against the official.

The transfer of Kamran Shehzad was ordered by the Director Colleges, Rawalpindi, on Sept 8, on the directions of the Director Public Instructions (Colleges), Punjab.

According to the NCHR communication, the commission learnt through media reports that Mr Shehzad had allegedly harassed female staff members at the college. It noted that an inquiry had been conducted and that the official had been held responsible for harassment, humiliating conduct, and inappropriate behaviour towards female employees.

The commission expressed concern that, despite the inquiry, the official had continued to work at the same institution.

It said his continued presence could undermine the purpose of the administrative action, create a sense of insecurity among affected staff, and discourage the reporting of similar incidents in the future.

The NCHR directed the Higher Education Department to take “immediate and effective” measures to protect female students and employees from further harassment, intimidation, or inappropriate behaviour. It also called for the identities and confidentiality of complainants and witnesses to be protected.

The commission further sought details of the inquiry, its findings and the action taken against the official.

Importantly, the NCHR recommended that the clerk should not be posted at any girls’ educational institution for the remainder of his service, until retirement.

The latest transfer follows a series of administrative proceedings against the official.

According to officials familiar with the matter, 32 of the 36 faculty members of the Government Graduate College for Women, Chakwal, had submitted complaints against the clerk. An inquiry was subsequently conducted by the Deputy Director Colleges and another by the Director Colleges.

The initial inquiry had resulted in a warning to the official. The Director Colleges, however, reportedly found the inquiry unsatisfactory and ordered a fresh probe by a committee comprising two senior principals.

The committee subsequently held the clerk responsible for the allegations.

On Aug 13, the Director Colleges ordered his transfer from the Chakwal college to Government Associate College, Tarhadah, in Talagang, and directed that he should not be posted at any girls’ college in future.

The order, however, was not implemented immediately. The Director Colleges visited Chakwal on Aug 19 and reportedly expressed displeasure over the delay in implementation.

Meanwhile, the clerk challenged the transfer before the Director Public Instructions. The relevant parties were heard on Aug 20.

The matter remained pending until the NCHR took notice of the issue on Sept 7.

Following the commission’s intervention, the Director Colleges amended the earlier order on Sept 8, transferring the official to Government Associate College, Choa Saidan Shah, instead of Tarhadah.

However, the revised order no longer contained the earlier restriction barring his posting at a girls’ college.

The removal of the restriction has raised questions, particularly in view of the NCHR’s recommendation that the official not be posted at any girls’ educational institution until retirement.

The commission stressed that the college was an institution specifically meant for female students and staff and that any conduct creating fear, anxiety, intimidation or an unsafe environment required an effective response from the authorities.

The latest development has brought renewed focus on the implementation of departmental inquiries and the safeguards required to ensure a safe working environment for female employees in educational institutions.