VSNL gets SC/ST Commission notice for discrimination

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL), in which the Tata group has a majority stake, has been served a notice by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for alleged discrimination against an SC/ST employee.

The Commission has also sent a copy of the notice to Tata group chairman Ratan Tata for ''necessary action''.

The notice served on VSNL Chairman Subodh Bhargav asks him to produce the original records relating to the harassment complaint against three senior VSNL officials pending for one-and-a-half years without any action being taken.

Mr Bharghav has been asked to submit the action-taken report in the case within 15 days.

All India VSNL SC/ST and OBC Employees Federation president P R Gaikwad had filed an FIR with the Mumbai Police against VSNL vice-president Ramanand, senior general manager V Natrajan and general manager Arun Kher alleging discrimination and harassment.

The notices were issued on October 18.

According to the Commission, there appears to be ''a case of discrimination with harassment of the petitioner''.

The Tata group holds a 54 per cent stake in VSNL.

UNI SKS/FZ KR DB2035