Chandigarh: As a case of workplace harassment in a government school flares up again, the UT Education Secretary has formally written to the SSP demanding a criminal investigation into the complaint signed by 24 women staff members. The issue was first raised at the highest administrative level through the Office of the Administrator.In the letter sent to the SSP, the Education Department has attached the complaint sent by the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the UT Administrator. Marked as “urgent”, the letter asks the police to “thoroughly investigate and investigate the matter” and records that the complaint contains “serious allegations including sexual harassment, academic harassment and related irregularities.”

Senior police officers have confirmed receipt of the letter. SSP Kanwardeep Kaur said it was received on Thursday and the SHO of the area has been directed to visit the school on Saturday. The SHO will interact with all the people concerned and conduct initial verification. SSP said that further action will be taken as per law.This development puts the case on the third track along with the ongoing departmental inquiry and proceedings before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The education department had issued the transfer order as an interim administrative measure, but the CAT stayed that order. According to sources aware of the proceedings, during the hearing on April 29, the department did not make detailed submissions on record.The original complaint, submitted to the school’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) on February 12, has been signed by 24 female staff members and alleges a pattern of behavior including abusive and sexualised language, threats and unwanted physical closeness. The complainants said the conduct created a “hostile, unsafe and abusive work environment.”Sources said no interim security measures were taken for more than two months.