Additional director of tourism Sanjay Pande has been dismissed from services after a four-member panel recommended for his removal in women harassment case.
Three women including two of his subordinates lodged complaint against Pande of ill-treatment, harassment, torture and inappropriate behaviour.
The department of personnel, after seeking approval from Rajasthan Public Service Commission and Governor of Rajasthan, issued termination letter.
What is the case
The case dates back to November 2020 when two of his subordinates lodged complaint against him and levelled allegations of harassment and torture. Sanjay Pande was immediately put on APO and a committee was set up to investigate the matter. He was later transferred to Delhi. But he came back after moving High Court stating that the post of additional director in Tourist Reception Centre in New Delhi is of RAS cadre. So he cannot be transferred out of cadre as he belongs to Tourism services.
After coming back, Sanjay Pande was transferred to Udaipur. According to sources, neither he appear in any of the hearings of the four-member panel headed by former IAS Shuchi Sharma nor Sanjay Pande went to Udaipur to attend his office. The panel was constituted to investigate the harassment charges under Vishakha Guidelines. The panel, after thorough investigation and statements from witnesses, recommended for his removal, which has been endorsed RPSC and the appointing authority – Governor of Rajasthan.
Father of Sanjay Pande was an IAS
Sanjay Pande, 56, is son of former IAS officer Harish Chandra Pande, who was 1959 batch officer. His father was also got suspended once in his service when former chief election commission of India T N Seshan had suspended him for negligence in his duty.
According to sources, Sanjay Pande had been misbehaving with his subordinates for long time.
“Sanjay Pande had been torturing us for long time. But no one dares to raise voice due his approach. This time, the top management of department of tourism took action on the complaint of two female colleagues. It is a lesson for all those who torture their sub ordinates and harass females at work place,” said a woman-officer in department of tourism.
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