Rohan Umak
TCS Nashik row: The controversy which erupted following the alleged religious conversion, coupled with sexual harassment case at the Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has reached the Supreme Court of India on Thursday, after an advocate filed a petition seeking the court’s urgent intervention.
As per reports, the plea states that the purported ‘organised religious conversion’ in Nashik has ‘shaken the conscience’ of the country’s citizens, and raised serious concerns over public order and national integrity.
Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay calls for stringent measures
Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has filed the petition with regard to the incident, and contended that deceitful religious conversions pose a huge threat to the core principles of sovereignty, democracy, secularism and liberty. He asserted in the plea that such practices undermine fraternity, national unity and dignity. It called upon both the Centre and state governments to implement stringent measures to curb unlawful religious conversions.
The petition also cited constitutional provisions, and emphasised that while individuals have the right to profess, propagate and practice religion, such freedoms are not absolute. It argued that these rights must remain subject to reasonable restrictions and cannot be misused under the garb of religious liberty.
TCS Nashik row: Background of the case, probe details
The TCS Nashik sexual harassment and religious conversion case is under intense scrutiny over the past few weeks, following the registration of multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) alleging sexual, mental and religious harassment by numerous persons of a team within the workplace. The police have arrested eight persons in connection with the case, while a female HR Manager, identified as Nida Khan is at large. A manhunt is underway to trace and arrest her, as per police.
Earlier, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted to probe the incident, which is examining the case from all aspects. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) also took cognisance and formed a fact-finding committee, which shall delve into the case on April 17.
