Nagaland Women’s Commission details steps taken on sexual harassment complaints in IDAN

The Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) has issued a press statement today regarding the allegations of sexual harassment had arisen within the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN).

In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission said that it first became aware of the allegations through reliable sources and subsequently sought a meeting with IDAN Chairman Abu Metha. The meeting took place on February 27, 2025, during which a verbal complaint was made to the Commission regarding allegations of sexual harassment by Reny Wilfred, IAS, Joint Secretary of IDAN, towards several female employees.

The Commission further disclosed that on March 19, it received a formal forwarding letter dated March 3, 2025, from the IDAN Chairman, enclosing a written complaint of sexual harassment and seeking counseling assistance for the victims.

“Upon receiving the verbal complaint, the NSCW took immediate cognizance of the matter,” the Commission’s statement read.

An official letter was subsequently issued to the IDAN Chairman on March 5, requesting a list of all female employees working under the Authority. The Under Secretary, IDAN, later furnished the required list.

As per the provisions of the Nagaland State Commission for Women Act, 2006, the NSCW initiated necessary steps to hear the female employees individually. Statements were recorded at the NSCW office. “Upon hearing the employees and considering the gravity of the offences as narrated by some of the victims, the Commission, working for the safety and security of women, filed a complaint letter dated March 17, 2025, addressed to the Director General of Police (DGP), Nagaland, seeking necessary legal action,” the statement said.

Following receipt of the complaint, the Police Headquarters (PHQ) instituted a preliminary enquiry conducted by a woman officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. Based on the findings of the enquiry, an FIR was registered on April 2, 2025, at the State Crime Police Station, PHQ, with the NSCW listed as the complainant.

The Commission also Informed that when it received the verbal complaint on February 27, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the establishment of IDAN was not properly constituted as per the POSH Act.

“Earlier, a formal direction was issued by the NSCW to the IDAN Chairman on February 26, 2025, to constitute the ICC under the POSH Act with immediate effect at IDAN to address grievances of sexual harassment at the workplace as mandated by law,” the Commission said. By letter dated the same day, the Under Secretary of IDAN communicated two orders regarding the appointment of a Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO), but the Commission found that this did not fulfill the statutory requirements of an ICC as laid down under the Act.

However, the Commission noted discrepancies in the constitution of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at IDAN. “It appeared through the communiqué that the Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) and the ICC Convenor were the same individual,” the NSCW said. As this arrangement violated the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, the Commission directed IDAN to reconstitute its ICC.

Following this directive, the Under Secretary of IDAN informed the NSCW, through a letter dated March 3, 2025, that the ICC had been reconstituted in compliance with the POSH Act.
The matter continued to develop. On April 2, 2025, the NSCW received a letter from female employees of IDAN addressed to its Chairperson, seeking legal advice and counseling for victims of sexual harassment.

“In response to their letter dated 02/04/25, the NSCW issued an invitation on 03/04/25 for counseling and legal support scheduled on 04/04/25. The invitation was addressed to all female employees of IDAN to ensure privacy and non-disclosure of individual names,” the Commission said. The requested services were subsequently provided at the NSCW office on April 4, 2025.

MT