The Lahore High Court on Tuesday has upheld the decision of the Punjab Ombudsman to terminate the employment of the Director of Management at a Vocational Institute for allegedly harassing a female teacher. The court dismissed the petitioner’s request for reinstatement.
Justice Raheel Kamran issued a 17-page detailed judgment on the petition filed by Umar Shehzad, setting a new legal precedent that the scope of workplace harassment extends beyond office premises.
The court noted that, according to the petitioner, the harassment occurred not in the office but at the complainant’s residence. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the Punjab Ombudsman could only hear cases of harassment occurring at the workplace.
In the written judgment, Justice Raheel Kamran observed that the petitioner had threatened the complainant that her job would be at risk if she did not comply with his demands. The court classified these actions as an abuse of authority. It further highlighted that women often refrain from immediately reporting harassment due to concerns about personal safety, family honor, or social stigma, but their initial silence does not indicate consent.
The court stated that attempts by the petitioner to question the complainant’s personal character could not undermine the core allegation of harassment. The female teacher had rightfully approached the Punjab Ombudsman, and the court upheld her complaint.
