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Major accuses army superiors of sexual harassment

Arup Chanda in Calcutta

A major in the Indian army has accused her male superiors of sexual harassment and mental torture.

The incident has shocked the Eastern Command. This is the first time in the army's history that a lady officer has lodged such a complaint against her superiors.

Major Dr Hemlata Kakkar, who is posted at the Eastern Command hospital here, has filed a suit in the Calcutta high court against the ministry of defence, the commandant of the hospital, Major General S V Vatve, and her immediate superior, Colonel J K Bohre.

After the major complained against Colonel Bohre, she was transferred to Binaguri in north Bengal.

The army then terminated her training at the Eastern Command hospital. Major Kakkar had only six months left to complete her training in the advanced course in post graduation for obstetrics and gynaecology.

Asked about her complaint, Major Kakkar said, "I have said everything in detail in my petition. Since the case is sub judice and I am an officer serving in the armed forces, I will not want to comment at this stage."

Chief Public Relation Officer, Eastern Command, Wing Commander Sinha said, "I am not aware of the case. Had it been positive publicity I would have spoken to you. It is better you contact the Command hospital."

Major General Vatve too preferred not to comment.

In her petition, Major Kakkar alleged she had been harassed by Colonel Bohre after she was posted at the command hospital last May.

She alleged, 'From the very beginning I was subjected to severe harassment and mental torture by Colonel Bohre. He passed comments mentioning the cases of Monica Lewinsky and Anjana Mishra, thereby insulting my womanhood in all possible manners. He would often crack vulgar jokes in presence of other doctors and nurses.'

Major Kakkar alleged that Colonel Bohre would also abuse her husband, who is a doctor in the same hospital. After she protested, she alleged that the torture increased. "It went to such an extent that I would weep publicly inside the hospital and undergo severe mental agony."

Till February 1999 Major Kakkar asked Colonel Bohre several times to stop insulting her, telling him she merited some consideration since she had sacrificed her personal life for acquiring a post graduation degree. But he apparently did not heed her pleas.

Major Kakkar ultimately complained to the commandant, Major General Vatve, but he took no action. Instead, when Colonel Bohre learnt of the complaint, he began threatening her. Unable to bear the torture, Major Kakkar lodged a formal complaint to Major General Vatve.

On April 23,1999, Colonel Bohre sent her a message stating she has been transferred to Binaguri and that her training course had been terminated.

When she sought Major General Vatve's intervention, he allegedly told her, 'It is not a perfect world in this hospital and it is a man's world where a woman has to be guided by the predilections of a man.'

On April 26 Major Kakkar narrated her plight to the GOC, Eastern Command, in presence of the deputy director of medical services.

After the high court stayed the transfer order, the army authorities asked her to submit a fresh application to continue her training under a separate advisor. She complied, but it was turned down.

Despite the court order, the army authorities have not allowed Major Kakkar to continue her training. She has been posted to the casualty ward instead of obstetrics and gynaecology.

As for Colonel Bohre, the authorities have transferred him out of Calcutta.

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