After fresh sex claims, TERI sends R K Pachauri on indefenite leave

New Delhi: R K Pachauri was on Friday asked to go on leave by the TERI Governing Council. The think tank stated that Pachauri, who had been at the Head of the Institute since 1982, will be on leave from TERI, TERI Governing Council and TERI University for an indefinite period.

Pachauri, who is the Chancellor of University supported by TERI, is accused of sexually harassing a junior colleague, who later quit the think tank last year. He is currently out on bail.

TERI on Friday appointed Ashok Chawla as their new chairman while Dr Ajay Mathur was handed complete executive powers of the think tank.

"The Council welcomed former Competition Commission chief Ashok Chawla as its new Chairman. The Council looks forward to his leadership of this important institute. The Council also inducted the new Director General, Ajay Mathur as a Member of the Council who will operate with full executive powers," TERI said in a statement after its governing council met.

Read: ‘R K Pachauri kissed me on my face,’ another TERI ex-staffer claims

The council met on Friday to discuss "key issues" relating to the functioning of the organisation.

TERI declined to comment on whether Pachauri was forced to go on leave or he took the decision voluntarily. "Our version has been made clear in our statement. There is no connotation to it," said an official.

Earlier on Thursday, there was an outrage over the appointment of Pachauri as Teri executive vice-chairman as he proceeded on indefinite leave on Thursday. He also confirmed that he will skip TERI University’s convocation scheduled for March 7.

In a parallel development, the Delhi police told the High Court that it was likely to file a chargesheet within 15 days in the sexual harassment case registered in February last year against the environmentalist. The cops said that the draft report has already been sent to prosecution branch. They also apprised the court of a proposed out-of-court settlement in the case.

Read: Sexual harassment case: Ex-TERI staff, alumni condemns Pachauri’s appointment

Trouble for Dr Pachauri had mounted on Wednesday after a second woman, a former employee of Teri, had come out in public making sexual harassment allegations. His elevation to the post of executive vice-chairman had invited flak from the alumni and women activists across the country as well. A group of students from Teri had even refused to receive their degrees from him.

“Yes. He is on leave. I can confirm this as his position as chancellor of Teri University. As chancellor, he is on leave. He communicated this today. The convocation is on March 7. He (Dr Pachauri) would not be attending it,” Teri varsity acting VC Rajiv Seth said.

Asked who would be holding the position of chancellor during Dr Pachauri’s absence, Mr Seth said it is yet to be decided and since the VC is involved in the day-to-day affairs of any university, Dr Pachauri’s going on leave will not affect the institution’s functioning in anyway.

On the letter that was written to him by the alumni, Mr Seth said that opinions must be debated and the university will never suppress them. “We always had a spirit of openness and debate at the university. It is okay if people come up with opinions, we must debate it. We would not like to suppress any opinions. It is very important as an academic institution to have openness and open debate. At Teri, which is a research university, this is encouraged even more,” he said.

Some alumni of 2013-2015 batch, had on Wednesday written to Mr Seth saying the recent “inaction” of the board of management at Teri University with respect to Pachauri “deeply saddened” them.

“We reiterate, that the trajectory that the university is taking is dangerous and grossly inconsiderate and as alumni, we sincerely hope that the TERI University Board of Management may seriously re-evaluate Pachauri’s continuing role as Chancellor of the university,” the alumni wrote in their letter.