The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to respond to allegations levelled by a woman, who had filed a sexual harassment case against accounting firm KPMG, against newly-appointed chairperson of the state womens' commission Sushiben Shah.
Advocate Sushiben Shah, daughter of former minister B A Desai, was appointed as the chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women earlier this month. Six others were also appointed as members of the commission by the government.
The appointments were made following a direction from the High Court during the hearing of a public interest litigation raising the issue of the posts in the commission lying vacant since 2009.
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The bench was today informed that all seven posts lying vacant, including that of the chairperson, has been filled up.
However, an application was filed by the woman, who had filed sexual harassment case against KPMG, seeking to challenge Sushiben Shah's appointment as chairperson.
According to the woman, when she had filed her complaint against KPMG, Sushiben had allegedly tried to influence her and asked her to withdraw her complaint against the accounting firm.
"I had in February 2009 filed a complaint against her (Sushiben Shah). She is not fit to hold the position of chairperson of the women's commission," the woman said.
The bench directed the lady to submit her complaint and other relevant documents to the government and directed the government to look into the issue and inform the court by February 9 if the allegations are true.
