HC upholds LIC’s demotion of ‘erratic’ woman officer
HYDERABAD: A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court on Friday found that some statements made in the course of assessment of a lady officer cannot be dubbed as sexual harassment. The panel, comprising acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara, set aside a decision of a single judge, who quashed an order of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) demoting a woman officer from the post of administrative officer (AO) to assistant administrative officer (AAO). It observed that the reversion was justified due to the excessive absenteeism of the officer during her probation period and found no merit in her allegations of sexual harassment or vindictive action by her employer. The petitioner contended that she was promoted to AO in 2013. However, in 2015 she was reverted to her previous position on the grounds of failing to complete her probation period satisfactorily. It is the case of the petitioner that her reversion was an act of retaliation for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a senior colleague. The single judge earlier ruled in her favour, quashing the reversion order and directed LIC to reinstate her with full back wages. The panel scrutinised the service records of the officer and noted that she had taken a staggering 585 days of leave, including 180 days of maternity leave, out of her 730-day probation period. The panel, speaking through Justice Yara, observed that such prolonged absence made it impossible for her superiors to evaluate her performance, justifying her reversion under Rule 16(2) of the LIC Staff Rules, 1960, which allows reversion of probationers without notice. On the sexual harassment allegations, the court found her complaint—which cited “humiliation” “sarcastic remarks about knowledge,” and “magnifying typing errors”—did not meet the legal threshold under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. It ruled that the allegations lacked any overt sexual undertones, such as demands for favours or physical misconduct, necessary to constitute harassment under the law.
Allotment of school land to MLA: HC takes up plea
Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court will continue to hear a writ plea challenging the allotment of land in which a government school was in existence to an MLA for residential purposes. The judge admitted a writ plea filed by the joint secretary of the parents’ association of the government high and primary schools, seeking the restoration of a demolished government school on the same site. The petitioners are challenging a GO dated February 18, 2010, issued by the principal secretary of the housing department, granting permission to the vice-chairman and housing commissioner of AP housing board to allot 500 sq. yards in Vijayanagar colony, Hyderabad, to Mohd. Virasat Rasool Khan, an MLA, on a three-year lease. The petitioner contended that the land in question formerly housed a government primary school and that the demolition of the school building which had been declared dilapidated, was carried out based on proceedings issued by the district education officer on October 05, 2009, Alleging that the government’s action was unconstitutional, illegal and contrary to public interest, the petitioner sought a direction for the reconstruction of the school building on the same site. The petitioners sought a direction for consideration of the petitioner’s earlier representations, requesting transfer of the property to the state education department to facilitate continued elementary education in the locality. The judge posted the matter for further hearing, requiring a response from the respondent authorities.
Plea challenges recruitments in TG under the AP Act
A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea on the question of whether rules framed under an erstwhile AP Act can govern recruitment in the new state. The panel, comprising Justice Sam Koshy and Justice Narsing Rao Nandikonda, will decide a writ plea challenging the validity of the A.P. Fire Services Subordinate Service Rules 1992. The panel was dealing with a writ plea filed by one P. Govind and other leading firemen, contending that the 1992 rules cannot be enforced since the Telangana Fire Services Act, 1999 (Act 15 of 1999) mandates that recruitment rules should be framed under its provisions. The petitioners argued that appointments through direct recruitment, transfers, or promotions under the outdated 1992 rules are legally invalid. They further contended that the government is obligated to frame fresh rules as per the 1999 Act. Additionally, the petitioners claimed that in the absence of provisions preserving old rules under the General Clauses Act, the 1992 rules are no longer applicable. After hearing the initial submissions, the panel directed the government pleader and the director general of fire services to seek instructions.
Student accused of kidnapping and marrying minor girl gets bail
Justice J. Sreenivas Rao of the Telangana High Court granted bail to a student accused of kidnapping and marrying a minor girl. The judge dealt with a criminal petition filed by Pawar Vinod. The prosecution alleged that the victim, a minor, went missing in February, leading to the registration of the case based on a complaint by her father. The petitioner, however, contended that the victim was not a minor, relying on a bonafide and conduct certificate issued by MPPS-Sarjaraopet thanda, which recorded her date of birth according to which she is an adult. The petitioner also pointed out that he and the victim were married in February 2025. The prosecution, on the other hand, cited the victim’s SSC certificate, which recorded a different date of birth of the girl. The judge observed that even according to the SSC certificate, the victim was over 16 years old. The judge also took note of the petitioner’s long standing relationship with the victim and the fact that the petitioner had been in judicial custody since February and deemed it fit to grant conditional bail to the petitioner.
