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A public interest litigation was filed by a woman challenging the appointment of Pankaj Dwivedi while also contending that he had sexually harassed her in 2018.
The Delhi High Court, on Thursday, questioned the central Government over their decision to appoint Pankaj Dwivedi as Executive Director of Union Bank amidst ongoing sexual harassment allegations.
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela questioned the Central Government’s representative on how Dwivedi could be appointed without the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC clearance). The Court questioned the procedure, highlighting the necessity for vigilance clearance in the current climate, and remarked on the inappropriate nature of the appointment without such clearance.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, informed the Bench that according to regulations, an individual could not be appointed to a senior role, such as Executive Director of a major public sector bank like Union Bank, without prior vigilance clearance, especially if a chargesheet was pending. Bhushan noted that Dwivedi’s appointment occurred without the requisite clearance and that the CVC subsequently denied him clearance. He further alleged that Dwivedi’s influence led to the petitioner’s transfer, which was later annulled by both the High Court and the Supreme Court.
Accordingly, the court issued notices to the Central Government, CVC, and Pankaj Dwivedi, instructing them to submit their responses. The matter was listed for further hearing on October 4, 2024.
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