Sins of omission and commission

Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW), Saturday raised serious concerns over the state government’s delayed handling of the alleged sexual harassment case involving senior IAS officer Reny Wilfred and also called for greater transparency and accountability in the pursuit of justice. Reports of sexually inappropriate behaviour against Wilfred were largely ignored and thus, creating an atmosphere where such misconduct seemed not only tolerated but systemically enabled. The fact that he was booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act while as the first Deputy Commissioner of Noklak district, should have triggered immediate and decisive action by the government. The POSCO Act -particularly as amended in 2019- includes harsher penalties for aggravated sexual assault and raising the minimum punishment for penetrative sexual assault on a child below 16 from 7 to 20 years. Despite the gravity, the state government merely transferred the officer and appointed him as joint secretary Industrial Development Agency of Nagaland (IDAN), a government initiative meant to spur economic progress. Again as Joint Secretary IDAN, Wilfred was accused of sexual harassment women employees of IDAN who complained to the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW). The NSWC then pursued it with the police and after some delays, a case was registered. However, the officer was not suspended but relieved of his post even as police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. Wilfred was shifted as joint secretary Finance where in his office room, he conducted a press conference to slam the police and the NSWC that was clear violation of service conduct rules. String of allegations against Wilfred only lead to conclusion that there also appears to be a deeper malaise within the administrative and political system that allowed such conduct to go unchecked for so long. This is not just about one officer; it is about the culture of silence, complicity, and institutional apathy that surrounds such cases. When systems fail to protect the vulnerable, particularly women in the workplace, they do more than just shield wrongdoers-they send a chilling message that accountability is optional, and justice negotiable. The state government’s belated response is no cause for applause. Rather, it is a reminder of how far the system still has to go in ensuring that power is not misused and that no one, however high-ranking, is above the law. If there is any seriousness about protecting citizens and upholding justice, then this case must become more than an isolated headline. It must mark the beginning of systemic reform-one that prioritizes integrity, transparency, and above all, the safety and dignity of every individual. While Wilfred is currently under investigation, Grover said the state government must reflect and offer an apology, particularly with reference to the Noklak minors’ case. She pointed out that the two young girls had to suffer due to serious lapse on the part of the authorities. “The rules were broken – and for what reason? Because those two girls were poor? Are we now going to deliver justice based on is powerful and rich?” she asked. That is a question that should challenge the state with regard to the implementation of the law of the land-the very basis of civilized societies.