The Delhi High Court has reinstated a woman employee of the Sahitya Akademi who accused its secretary, Dr. K. Srinivasa Rao, of sexual harassment, ruling that her dismissal was unlawful and retaliatory.
The judgment, delivered on August 28, 2025, held that the Akademi acted vindictively when it terminated her services in 2020, soon after she lodged a complaint.
The woman, identified in court as Jugnu (name changed), joined the Akademi in February 2018 and alleged repeated harassment, unwanted advances, and lewd remarks from the secretary, beginning with an official trip to Leh in September that year.
She further claimed that during trips to Assam, Gangtok, and Ranchi, Rao made sexually inappropriate comments and physical advances, including an incident in an elevator where he allegedly attempted to insert his finger into her mouth.
She also accused senior officials, including the Akademi’s president and members of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), of pressuring her to withdraw the complaint.
The Akademi argued that the matter should be addressed by its ICC and that the secretary could not be classified as an “employer” under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
The court rejected this, ruling that as the principal executive officer of the Akademi, Rao qualified as an employer and therefore the Local Complaints Committee (LCC) had exclusive jurisdiction to investigate the allegations. The court said the Akademi should have postponed any action against the complainant until the inquiry was complete, but instead chose to terminate her service on the recommendation of a “Review Committee” that had no legal standing.
Calling the dismissal “retaliatory,” the court quashed the termination order, directed the Akademi to reinstate the complainant, disburse her pending salary arrears within four weeks, and treat her as on paid leave until the LCC ensures a safe working environment. It also emphasised that the case underscored the need for cultural institutions to act with transparency and accountability.
Despite the allegations and court proceedings, Rao has continued to receive government honours. Only days before the ruling, on August 23, 2025, the Bihar government awarded him the Babu Ganga Sharan Singh Award for contributions to Hindi literature. Earlier, he was seen welcoming President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and represented India at the 2024 BRICS Literature Forum in Russia.
The Akademi has not commented on the judgment. Rao said the matter was still pending in the high court and declined to respond further, citing contempt of court concerns.