The Delhi High Court today directed the Delhi Public School Society (DPSS) to pay Rs8.50 lakh as compensation to its four former women employees for firing them from the job and failing to take action against a school principal for seeking sexual favours from them.
Justice S Ravindra Bhat declined to give any relief to US Verma, the then Principal of DPS Faridabad, challenging a recommendation by National Commission for Women for "strong action" against him following complaints made by the four victims.
The court asked the school society to pay Rs2.5 lakh each to three teachers and Rs one lakh to a non-teaching staff.
On June 29, 1999, the NCW had, in its inquiry report, asked the DPSS to act against Verma, finding substance in the charges of sexual harassment filed by the four women.
Instead of acting upon NCW's recommendations, DPSS set up a one-member committee a day later on June 30, 1999, to look into the allegations which concurred with the findings of the womens' panel.
The women victims had alleged Verma sought sexual favours for regularisation of their services. They were removed from job in 1998 after they refused to give in to his demands.
During their probation between 1996 to 1998, Verma used to send memos to them accusing them of dereliction of duties, they alleged.
