Delhi: Indian navy doctor accused of molesting junior officer

At a time when the government and the Armed Forces are exhorting women to take up careers in the services, a molestation case is hardly the endorsement they need.

Molestation charges

A top Indian Navy doctor, currently posted in the Capital, is in the dock over accusations of molesting his female colleague, a junior naval medical officer. In her complaint, the junior officer has accused her senior, a Surgeon Commander by rank, of attempting to molest her on successive days this month. Shockingly, the first instance reported allegedly took place inside the residence of Indian Navy’s Chief of Personnel (COP) Vice Admiral AR Karve, where the duo had gone to treat his ailing mother. The navy has taken cognisance and constituted a Board of Inquiry (BoI) — the first step in investigating the alleged instance.

When the purported incidents took place, the Surgeon Commander was posted at INS India, the establishment looking after administrative and logistical requirements of the navy in the national Capital. Sources said the doctor has not been reporting to duty for the past few days. He was recently recognised for his meritorious service by the navy leadership.

First instance

“The first alleged instance occurred on Friday, May 6, when the lady officer sought to use the bathroom at Karve’s residence. After this, the Commanding Officer of INS India and senior authorities, including Controller of Personnel Services (CPS) Rear Admiral KK Pandey were alerted by her. That it had no impact can be confirmed by the alleged second instance when the senior again made an approach. That was when the lady gave an ultimatum and ordered a probe,� said a source.

The navy contested this and said there was no delay whatsoever. It also rejected allegations of being slow. Captain DK Sharma, Indian Navy’s spokesperson, said, “We are seized of the matter and a BoI was ordered immediately on receiving the complaint. Navy has a zero-tolerance outlook on such matters. Please wait for the inquiry to conclude and we can assure you that justice will be done.�

It was reliably learnt that the board of inquiry report is soon to be handed over to the naval headquarters following which a final decision will be taken in the case. 

What is also raising eyebrows is the place of occurrence. “Military doctors are not supposed to treat a patient at home. If the patient is in such a bad condition, then he or she should be in the hospital,� said a source. A military doctor, when asked to explain this anomaly, said, “There is a legal framework and there is a humanitarian framework. The latter supersedes the former, but the former still exists.� Meanwhile, navy sources said it was done keeping in mind the humanitarian aspect and given the seniority of the officer concerned.

Women in Armed Forces

Unlike in the past, more number of streams within the army, air force and navy are opening up for women. The navy in April announced its first permanent commission for female officers, becoming the last among the three services to do so.

Apart from opening up fields like education, naval constructors, the navy is also looking at finalising a “policy for women officers to serve on select warships that have appropriate facilities for women�.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) informed Parliament in December last year that excluding officers in the medical, dental and military nursing services, the army had 1,412 women officers, the air force had 1,128 and the navy had 418, all of them on Short Service Commission (SSC).

Previous instances

In a similar case reported in August 2014, a young woman officer holding the rank of a Lieutenant had complained against her senior, a Commander rank officer in the navy’s Eastern Naval Command for making inappropriate advances. Her complaint was supported by other civilian naval employees. However, when the navy investigated the case, of the five charges only one stuck and the Commander was handed out “18 months forfeiture of seniority and consequential penalties�. The officer quit.

(Source : indiatoday.intoday.in)

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