Delay in action against district surgeon in Hassan leaves women staff worried

The district surgeon, originally a teaching faculty member at HIMS, faces charges of harassing women at the workplace. An inquiry committee is said to have recommended action against him for his conduct

The delay in taking action against a senior official facing allegations of harassing women at the workplace has left the staff at the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) in Hassan worried.

H.C. Lokesh, district surgeon of Sri Chamarajendra Hospital, attached to HIMS, continues to hold the post even months after an inquiry was conducted against him. He holds the post of associate professor of General Medicine in the college that comes under the Department of Medical Education (DME) and was given the additional charge of district surgeon, the post that comes under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, in December 2023.

Complaints

The allegation is that the officer often scolded the women staff in abusive language and made inappropriate physical contact at the workplace. He also allegedly threatened to deprive them of their jobs if they complained to anybody against him. A majority of the victims were recruited on a temporary basis through an outsourcing agency.

Ananya Trust, a private organisation working for women’s welfare in Hassan, had written to the Ministers of Health, Medical Education, and senior officials of both departments in May 2024, seeking action against him. The trust had cited the complaints it received from the women staff of the hospital.

Inquiry report

The DME appointed a three-member committee for the inquiry. The team, consisting of senior officials of the HIMS, conducted the inquiry and submitted its report in September 2024. According to sources in the department, the committee recorded his alleged wrongdoings and recommended action against him. However, the department has not taken action against him so far.

“The same person continues to hold the post, and the women, who complained against him, are forced to continue to work under him. The government had assured the safety of women at workplace after the rape and murder of a postgraduate student at a medical college hospital in Kolkata in August this year. Will the government fulfil its assurance?” asked one of the complainants.

Minister’s response

Interestingly, Dr. Lokesh was suspended following allegations of sexual harassment of a house surgeon in January 2022. He was reinstated in August 2022 as the committee set up to probe the incident exonerated him. In fact, the complainant had not appeared before the committee to record her statement.

When The Hindu contacted Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, over the phone on Friday, he said he would get that report and take action against the person.

Published - November 29, 2024 09:36 pm IST