Pune: At least four women employees of PMC-run Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College (BAVMC) have come forward with complaints against a senior official of the institute, alleging harassment and sending unsolicited messages.Sunita Sawant, dean (additional charge) of the medical college, ordered the official to be sent on compulsory and indefinite leave.In a letter addressed to Sawant, the PMC chief, the PMC additional commissioner and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol, the women alleged that the official would repeatedly call them to his cabin, make them wait for hours, interrupt their work and subject them to mental harassment. They further alleged that he had sent personal and indecent messages via WhatsApp, causing discomfort and offending their modesty.“We have set up an inquiry committee under the Vishakha guidelines to look into the allegations. The complaint reached us only a few days ago, and we will thoroughly investigate it. It is too early to comment on the role of the police in this case. However, a workplace must be a safe for every woman,” Sawant said.TOI’s multiple calls and messages to the official remained unanswered at the time of going to press.The letter alleges that the complaint has been filed collectively by women staff members of the medical college, many of whom are reluctant to come forward publicly because of the official’s position as a permanent employee and fears of possible adverse consequences.The letter, dated June 1, alleges: “The official’s behaviour made the workplace unsafe for women employees. Despite being a senior official, he repeatedly behaved in an impolite manner and interfered in the personal lives of women employees despite their objections. We demand an independent inquiry into the matter, while ensuring the anonymity of the complainants, and appropriate action against the accused.”The college has previously been embroiled in several controversies, including repeated notices from the National Medical Commission for failing to meet prescribed norms.
