SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court recently quashed a case of sexual harassment filed by a woman pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) against a Wing Commander, following a compromise between them.
Justice Rajnesh Oswal said that the continuation of investigation in the FIR under Section 354A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code will not serve any purpose and rather would be an exercise in futility after the settlement between the complainant and accused person.
“In view of the above, FIR … registered with the Police Station, Satwari for commission offence under Section 354-A IPC is quashed. The contesting parties shall not publicise the matter and the controversy, which has now been settled between the parties in any manner, whatsoever,” the Court ordered.
The order was passed on the Wing Commander’s petition challenging the registration of FIR against him in 2021 on the woman officer’s complaint.
It had been alleged that the accused officer repeatedly demanded sexual favours from the complainant and also passed objectionable comments her, while touching her inappropriately.
During pendency of the petition, the accused issued a communication to the complainant for settlement of the case.
The woman officer accepted the same and then gave her no objection for quashing of the FIR, as per the order.
“The petitioner too has stated that he will remain bound by the said communication and the dispute between the contesting parties has been settled. He has further stated that matter will never be publicised or put on social media by him,” the Court recorded in the order, while quashing the FIR.
