Pachauri should be stripped off all posts till he comes clean: Shobha Oza

The Congress Party on Wednesday slammed The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for promoting R.K. Pachauri, who is facing sexual harassment charges, to the post of executive vice chairman, saying that he should be stripped off all the posts till he comes clean.

All India Mahila Congress president Shobha Oza said Pachauri's promotion showed how seriously harassment at the workplace is being taken in the country.

"It is really unfortunate that Pachauri is facing harassment charges by a co-worker. And, he is promoted despite the fact that the entire matter is sub-judice, and on the same issue he resigned from the International UN IPCC..This clearly shows the way we are handling harassment at workplace," she told ANI.

"It is really pathetic that we do not take harassment at the workplace seriously in our country and it is high time that such issues are handled strictly. Until the matter is sub-judice, until Pachauri comes clean on this issue, he should not be holding any position," she added.

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 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 the workplace, stalking and criminal intimidation had been promoted.

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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.