Pachauri's TERI promotion is a violation of law: Brinda Karat

Questioning The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for promoting R K Pachauri to the post of executive vice chairman while he was embroiled in a sexual harassment case, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said it was a clear violation of the law.

Array

"It's a shameful and shocking case of clear violation of the law against sexual harassment at the work place. The fact that somebody who is an accused, whose case is going on in the court should be promoted by TERI, is just a violation of the law and it has to be prevented," Karat told ANI.

She added that it was useless having laws when the victim was being denied justice and the powerful can manipulate the legal system.

Array

"The victim is being denied justice. What's the point of having laws if you're not going to implement them and if the powerful can manipulate the law," Karat said.

Array

Earlier, the complainant in the sexual harassment case against Pachauri, slammed the council of TERI for promoting him to executive vice chairman, saying that it was a 'shameless act which made her flesh crawl'.

In an open letter, the complainant has lashed out at the TERI's Governing Council saying that it was despicable that a man who stands booked on charges of sexual harassment at workplace, stalking and criminal intimidation had been promoted.

Array

"I spoke up and was quarantined from work. Not allowed to resume work and no earnings for a long time. No money and a tainted Curriculum Vitae gave me sleepless nights. It was getting beyond my dignity to be associated with such an organisation and in the best of my interest, I quit. I felt most lighter in my mind and body on quitting TERI. I deserved better," she said.

Array

Pachauri has been charged with sexual harassment by a woman researcher who used to work directly under the veteran climate scientist and later resigned from her job as she felt 'let down' by TERI. She has now moved to another organisation.