Assam: Nalbari Court directs Police to FIR against Nabari DC for allegedly harassing junior

NALBARI-   A court in Assam’s Nalbari district has directed police to file a first information report (FIR) against an IAS officer, who is also the deputy commissioner of the district, for alleged harassment of a junior officer.

Additional chief judicial magistrate P Goswami stated that the police have failed in its duty to address the complaint of the Arpana Sarmah, a circle officer, who accused Nalbari DC Varnali Deka of “mental harassment, public humiliation and threats” while performing election duty during the Lok Sabha polls in May this year.

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“I am of the considered opinion that the police have failed in their duty cast upon them by law. An FIR needs to be filed for the allegations filed by the complainant and proper investigation of this case needs to be carried out as per law,” Goswami stated in her order issued on Monday.

The court directed the officer-in-charge of the Nalbari police station to register a case (against IAS officer Deka), conduct investigation and submit final report “expeditiously”.

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In her complaint, Sarmah had alleged that while she was performing election duties on May 7 at the Government Gurdon Higher Secondary School in Nalbari, Deka “continuously harassed her with and maligned her publicly with slang words in front of polling personnel”.

The complainant, Arpana Sarmah, had earlier alleged harassment and intimidation by the DC during a night shift at an EVM receipt centre.

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The incident occurred on May 7, 2024, and a complaint was filed with the Nalbari Police Station the following day. However, it was alleged that despite the complaint being filed, the FIR was never registered. Sarmah had then approached the court regarding the FIR.

It may be mentioned here that, Sarmah was suspended on May 15, with the suspension order citing “reported abandonment of election duties, insubordination, disruptive behaviour, and utter negligence in works related to Lok Sabha elections.” The Election Commission directed her suspension and recommended departmental proceedings against her.

But the important thing is that,  “ prior to the suspension, Aparna Sarmah accused DC Deka of subjecting her to mental harassment”.