SSGC, others put on notice on plea against punishment in sexual harassment case

By Jamal Khurshid
January 06, 2025
Representational image of a person pressing their hands against the glass. — AFP/File
Representational image of a person pressing their hands against the glass. — AFP/File

The Sindh High Court has issued notices to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), its workplace harassment inquiry committee and others on a petition of a former employee against the removal of his service by the inquiry committee and provincial ombudsman on sexual harassment charges.

The petitioner, Munawar Hayat, had assailed the inquiry committee and provincial ombudsman’s order on workplace harassment charges. He had submitted that he was serving as the medical services general manager and was falsely implicated in sexual harassment charges at the behest of his rival officials.

A counsel for the petitioner had submitted that he was not provided the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses but only allowed to conduct cross-examination of the complainant and victims. He had submitted that all the witnesses were examined by the inquiry committee

itself in his absence.

The counsel had submitted that due process was not followed in the inquiry and proceedings of the ombudsman and the petitioner was not provided opportunity of hearing to confront the other witnesses which was against the principal of natural justice.

He had submitted that the inquiry committee of the SSGC and provincial ombudsman’s decisions were unlawful and liable to be set aside. The petitioner had also requested the high court to suspend the impugned decisions and reinstate him on his post.

A division bench of the SHC headed by Justice Mohammad Faisal Kamal Alam after a preliminary hearing of the petition issued notices to the SSGC, its inquiry committee on workplace harassment and others, and called their comments on January 21.

The inquiry committee of SSGC and provincial ombudsman on workplace harassment had earlier removed the petitioner from service and ombudsman also imposed Rs.1.5 million as a fine on him. The ombudsman observed in its order that the petitioner committed sexual harassment to his female co-staff, created hostile environment and caused mental agony to them.