In a recent development in Assam, a district court made a significant decision regarding allegations against a senior IAS officer. Arpana Sarmah, a circle officer, accused Varnali Deka, the deputy commissioner of Nalbari district, of mental harassment and public humiliation during their work together on election duty last year. Despite initially facing challenges in having her FIR registered, Sarmah persisted, leading to the court eventually directing police to investigate further under the oversight of a senior officer nominated by the superintendent of police, Nalbari.
The court’s decision came after reviewing a police report that had previously cited insufficient evidence to proceed against Deka. Critically, the court found procedural lapses in the investigation, noting discrepancies such as the lack of a seizure report for CCTV footage and insufficient scrutiny in the presence of impartial witnesses.
Sarmah’s complaint detailed events during election duties where she alleged sustained harassment and derogatory treatment from Deka, prompting her to seek recourse through legal channels after initial attempts to file an FIR were reportedly disregarded by local police.
The case has garnered attention due to its implications for workplace conduct and the handling of complaints within administrative bodies.
