Pachauri proceeds on leave; Chawla named new TERI chief

New Delhi, February 12

New executive vice-chairman R.K. Pachauri was on Friday virtually shut out of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) when he was nudged to go on leave, even as its chairman B.V. Sreekantan resigned in the midst of mounting outrage over the elevation of the environmentalist facing a swirl of sexual harassment allegations.

In a related development, former Competition Commission chief Ashok Chawla was appointed new Chairman of the organisation, who disclosed that an external ombudsman will be appointed to go into any complaints of sexual harassment in future.

The former TERI Director-General continued to face heat as women activists protested outside the TERI office, demanding his sacking from the organisation.

Pachauri, who went on leave yesterday from TERI University after students refused to receive degrees from him, today proceeded on leave from the organisation and its Governing Council.

“R.K. Pachauri, who had been at the head of the institute since 1982, will be on leave from TERI, TERI Governing Council, and TERI University till this is reviewed by the Governing Council given the sub-judice nature of the matter,” TERI said in a statement after meeting of the governing council which discussed about the roles, responsibilities and leadership of the organisation.

TERI said the organisation looks forward to leadership of 65-year-old Chawla who was also a Union Finance Secretary, and inducted the new Director-General Ajay Mathur as a member of the council.

Mathur will operate with full executive powers, a move that will strip Pachauri of any executive powers he may have enjoyed when he was appointed executive vice chairman earlier this week.

When asked whether Pachauri was forced to go on leave or he took the decision voluntarily, TERI declined to comment.

“Our version has been made clear in our statement. There is no connotation to it,” said a TERI official.

Sreekantan who has resigned was a member of the governing council for over 40 years.

Chawla also said the integrity and credibility of the organisation should not be allowed to decline.

Facing flak over appointing him to the newly created post of executive vice-chairman, TERI had yesterday claimed that Pachauri’s role in his new capacity was to ensure a “smooth transition” for Mathur.

Pachauri had proceeded on leave yesterday from TERI University and communicated that he will skip the institution’s convocation on March 7 after a group of students refused to receive degrees from him.

TERI said that the process for the replacement of Pachauri as DG had culminated after the appointment of Mathur as DG with full executive powers on July 23 last year.

“However, as Mathur was able to join only on February 8 this year after he was finally relieved by the Government of India, the Governing Council effected various interim arrangements so as not to destabilise the operations of the Institute,” it said.

The green body said it has a staff strength of 1,200 people, out of which over 33 per cent were women.

“At the highest echelons of the institute, 14 of the 30 directors are women. The Governing Council of TERI supports the rights of women and has consistently ensured the provision of a secure environment and a safe work place for its employees,” it said in the statement.

Meanwhile, concerns of students regarding posts held by Pachauri have been passed on to the green body’s governing council, TERI University today said, while asserting that its process and systems goes “beyond dependence” on a single individual.

Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Rajiv Seth, today held two separate interactions with the student body as well as with faculty members.

The move came after some alumni of 2013-2015 batch, had yesterday written to Seth saying the recent “inaction” of the board of management at TERI University with respect to Pachauri “deeply saddened” them.

“Pachauri’s continuing presence at the top is completely antithetical to our convictions as alumni and graduates of TERI University. We would like to make it explicitly clear that we are not in a position to accept our degrees from him at the upcoming convocation on March 7, 2016.

“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.

Meanwhile, the women activists, who demonstrated outside TERI office where its Governing Council was meeting was on, also submitted a memorandum demanding the sacking of Pachauri.

“Another woman came out yesterday alleging that Pachauri is a serial harasser. The people, facing sexual harassment charges, are sacked, not elevated.

“We are protesting peacefully as meeting of governing body is on. We want to talk to them that Pachauri should be sacked immediately,” a protester said.

Some alumni of 2013-2015 batch had earlier written to acting Vice Chancellor of TERI University Rajiv Seth, saying the recent “inaction” of the board of management at TERI University with respect to Pachauri “deeply saddened” them.

Earlier this week, another ex-employee levelled allegation of sexual harassment against Pachauri, who is currently out on bail.

President of All-India Democratic Women’s Association Subhashini Ali said no matter how eminent the person is, an alleged sexual offender needs to be punished.

“It is very difficult for women to lodge a complaint and to lodge it against someone who is superior is even more difficult. Women have been told to keep quiet because they are very eminent people. If they were sexual offender, they need to be punished no matter how eminent they are,” she said. — PTI