2026:CGHC:8618-DB Digitally AFR signed by SISTA SISTA SOMAYAJULU SOMAYAJULU Date: HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

2026.02.18

17:55:20 +0530 WPS No. 9365 of 2025 {Arising out of order dated 31-7-2025 in Original Application No.525/2025 of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur Bench, Jabalpur}

Order reserved on: 10-2-2026 Order delivered on: 18-2-2026 Order (Full) uploaded on: 18-2-2026 Subodh Kumar Deshpandey, S/o Shri D.J. Deshpandey, aged about 53 years, Occupation Senior Technician Services, Personnel No.15525, Bhilai Steel Plant, R/o B-4, Dutt Villa, Saket Colony, Durg, District Durg (C.G.)

... Petitioner versus

1. Union of India, through the Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Ispat Bhawan, 3^rd Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003

2. The Director (Technical) & Acting DIC (Bhilai Steel Plant), SAIL Corporate Office, Ispat Bhawan, 3^rd Floor, Lodhi Road, New Delhi –

110003

3. The Executive Director, Medical & Health Services, Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai, District Durg (C.G.)

4. General Manager, Maintenance and Services, JLNH & RC, BSP, Bhilai, District Durg (C.G.)

5. The Assistant Manager (HR-Medical), Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai, District Durg (C.G.)

... Respondents For Petitioner : Mr. Manoj Paranjpe, Senior Advocate with Mr.

Kabeer Kalwani, Advocate.

For Respondent No.1/ : Mr. Ramakant Mishra, Deputy Solicitor General of Union of India India and Mrs. Annapurna Tiwari, Advocate.

For Respondents No.2 to 5/ : Mr. Naman Nagrath, Senior Advocate (through Bhilai Steel Plant virtual mode) with Mr. P.R. Patankar, Advocate.

For Intervener/Complainant: Mr. P. Chetan Kumar, Advocate.

Division Bench: -

Hon'ble Shri Sanjay K. Agrawal and Hon'ble Shri Arvind Kumar Verma, JJ.

C.A.V. Order Sanjay K. Agrawal, J.

1. Invoking the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has called in question legality, validity and correctness of order dated 31-7-2025 passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jabalpur Bench, Jabalpur (CAT) in Original Application No.525/2025, by which his application under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, has been rejected finding no merit.

Proceedings before the Central Administrative Tribunal

2. The intervener/complainant being a Safai Karmachari on contractual basis, lodged a complaint of sexual harassment against the petitioner on 26-4-2025 before the President, National Women Commission, New Delhi and copy of the same was also forwarded to the Executive Director (Medical & Health Services), Bhilai Steel Plant and on the same day, the complainant was transferred by the contractor on her own request. However, thereafter, on 28-4-2025, the complaint was forwarded to the Internal Complaints Committee constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (for short, ‘the Act of 2013’) for appropriate action. The Internal Complaints Committee convened meeting on the next day i.e. on 29-4-2025 and took cognizance of the complaint. On 1-5-2025, letter dated 30-4-2025 was served upon the complainant/intervener to provide a copy of the complaint along with relevant documents and list of witnesses. Next day on 2-5- 2025, in compliance of the letter served to the complainant, the complaint was again forwarded to the Internal Complaints Committee and enquiry was initiated against the petitioner. On 5-5- 2025, the Internal Complaints Committee, vide Annexure P-13, noticed the petitioner herein to submit his explanation which he submitted on 22-5-2025. In the meanwhile, on 30-4-2025, a note sheet was initiated by the DGM (M&S) recommending the transfer of the petitioner on the ground of the complaint of sexual harassment made by the intervener and acting upon the said complaint and the note sheet, on 14-5-2025, vide Annexure P-3, the order of transfer of the petitioner from Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Sector-9, Bhilai to Nandini Mines was passed and he was relieved on 19-5-2025 vide Annexure P-4. Thereafter, on 27-5-