Ex Director health Samir Matoo gets clean chit in alleged sexual harassment case

Srinagar, July 20, KDC: Former Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Samir Mattoo has been given clean chit by the Complaint Committee for Sexual harassment of Women at Work Place after allegations against him leveled by a female doctor were found false.

The committee in its 33 page report, a copy of which lies with news agency  has said that the complaint failed to provide evidence and witnesses to establish that she was sexually harassed by Dr Samir Matoo.

“From perusal of complaint, reply by the respondent, testimony of witnesses in shape of duly sworn in affidavits and material available on record, the committee arrives at the conclusion that allegation against the respondent has not been proved,” the committee said.

“It is accordingly recommended that no action is required to be taken in the matter,” the committee said in the report.

The Complaint Committee was headed by Satvir Kour Sudan Director General, P&S, Health and Medical Education department as Chairperson and included Dr. Samia Rashid Principal, GMC, Srinagar, Dr. Renu Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu, and Tawheedah Assistant Legal Remembrancer, Co-op department as members.

The committee has examined and questioned the complainant, two senior officials of the Directorate, Dr Syed Manzoor Qadri and Deputy Director Dr Bashir Chalkoo and the respondent Dr Samir Matoo.

The committee in its report has on each allegation leveled by the female doctor examined and cross examined her, Dr Samir Matoo and two witnesses Dr Syed Manzoor Qadri and Dr Bashir Ahmad Chalkoo.

However, as per the exhaustive report the committee has said that at each allegations the complainant failed to establish her allegations of sexual harassment by Dr Samir Matoo.

The female doctor name (withheld) had filed a complaint last year in October in LG office against Dr Samir Mattoo alleging that the latter had on phone used indecent language and sexually harassed by him after which the administration formed the committee for probe.

The female doctor has been working in the health department for the last 23 years and she has served outside Srinagar for only one year drawing her salary from SDH Kangan, her original place of posting.

She held four posts including Epidemiologist, Kashmir Division, State Surveillance Officer, IDSP, State Tuberculosis Officer, Kashmir and Nodal Officer National Tobacco Control Programme.

However, last year one of her charges, the Nodal Officer National Tobacco Control Programme, was withdrawn from her as the eligible doctor name (withheld) has been posted there.

Sources told Kashmir Dot Com that the transfer of the female doctor to her original place of posting had angered her and she leveled false allegations against the director to stay back in Srinagar.

“The allegations were merely done to gain public sympathy and exploit the officials to rescind her transfer order. The doctor doesn’t want to serve the public for which she is paid by the government,” sources said. (KDC)