R K Pachauri quits Teri

A day after reports emerged of the governing council removing him, Pachauri says he left on his own

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A day after the governing council of The Energy Research Institute (Teri) decided to cut all ties with former chief R K Pachauri, a statement put out by him on Thursday said he left of his own accord.

Earlier this week, the governing council had decided to not renew Pachauri's term as executive vice chairman, a governing council member who attended the meeting told Business Standard on conditions of anonymity. He is facing multiple cases of sexual harassment.

The post, which had been created for Pachauri, ensured him a seat in the governing council which recently saw former Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla appointed Chairman. Teri confirmed that his term ended on March 31.

However, as Pachauri’s current contract with Teri does not include an early exit clause, the council decided against immediate termination, instead opting to pay him a salary until his five-year contract ends on July, 2017.

While Pachauri did not reply to repeated queries made by this newspaper throughout the day, a statement put out by him late evening said he has stepped down "to get engaged in other interests."

“My term as a member of the governing council ended on March 31, 2016, and I felt it was time for me to move away and get engaged in other activities which I have harboured over the past few years," the statement read.

However, details of Pachauri’s exit along with his compensation are yet to be ironed out, the governing council member said adding Pachauri will be formally informed of the decisions soon. He had been the chief executive at Teri since 1982, first as director, and then director-general from April 2001.

Teri’s spokesperson confirmed, “several decisions were taken in the latest governing council meeting, details can only be made public after the minutes are approved.”

A charge sheet has been filed against Pachauri by the Delhi Police on charges of sexual harassment of a female employee. He faced yet more heat earlier this month when a third employee came out against him. Repeated allegations against him in the past two years had weighed in on the council’s decision, said the member.

The first complaint against Pachauri was made last February when a 26-year-old researcher took him to court alleging that soon after she joined in September 2013, he began harassing her via email, WhatsApp and text messages, and persisted despite her requests that he stop. He has denied all charges.

After much public pressure, Pachauri was removed from the post of director general of Teri in July 2015, two months after he was indicted in an internal probe by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

After Ajay Mathur replaced him as the director general, the post of executive vice chairman was created for Pachauri, who was forced to go on leave just days later, sources said.

Pachauri has complained about hacking of his electronic devices to frame him.

Earlier this year, two more former employees of TERI filed complaints against him. One of these two women, a foreign national, alleged sexual harassment by him in 2008 when she was working as his secretary.

A local court on Saturday will hear arguments on the charge sheet filed. However, Pachauri’s lawyer said he was currently on a trip to United States and Mexico and will come back on March 28.

THE STORY SO FAR

• Feb 20,’15: Researcher lodges complaint against Pachauri alleging sexual harassment
   
• Feb 24, ‘15: Pachauri denies allegations, steps down as chairman, IPCC
  

 

July, ‘15: Pachauri removed form the post of director general and Ajay Mathur takes over
 

Feb 9, ‘16: Pachauri appointed Teri executive vice chairman
 

Feb 11, ‘16: Second Teri staffer alleges sexual harassment
 

Feb 12, ‘16: Pachauri goes on indefinite leave as Chawla declared new chairman
 

Mar 1, ‘16: Delhi Police files charge sheet against Pachauri
 

Apr 23, ‘16: Case to be heard at metropolitan court