Shillong, Jun 9: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women has directed the Meghalaya Cricket Association to initiate disciplinary proceedings against a coach and manager of the U-23 women’s cricket team who were accused by players of sexual harassment.
In an order issued on 5th June, the MSCW held that the conduct of coach Hemant Roy and manager Sanjay Mondal amounted to sexual harassment under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.
Six players brought the complaint against the two officials for verbal harassment, inappropriate remarks and private communication through WhatsApp. Their attempt to raise the complaint with the MCA in December did not see any progress, prompting them to take the complaint to the MSCW in May.
The MSCW directed the MCA to suspend Roy from coaching duties for three months and ensure that he is not assigned to coach women’s teams in the future. It further ordered that he be issued a written warning, stating that any recurrence of similar misconduct could result in his termination.
In the case of Mondal, the commission recommended his termination as assistant manager and directed that he issue a written apology to the complainants. Both officials have also been barred from contacting or approaching the complainants.
MSCW Chairperson Iamonlang Syiem stated that the conclusions had been arrived at after examining the testimonies of the complainants and respondents, documentary evidence, email records and WhatsApp communications.
“Based on the material on record, including testimonies of the complainants and the submissions of the parties, the commission finds that the conduct of both respondents amounts to sexual harassment under the POSH Act 2013,” the order stated.
When it took up the complaint in May, the MSCW had also sought a detailed report from former MCA President Nababrata Bhattacharjee, former Honorary Treasurer Dhrubajyoti Thakuria and Honorary Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni. They had been asked to explain why no action was not taken given that the matter had been brought to the MCA’s attention earlier. MCA President James PK Sangma, who took charge in January, said he had been kept in the dark over the players’ original complaint in December and he also accused Kharkamni of trying to cover up the matter.