Court asks government's role in funding TERI

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the central government to apprise it of its role in funding The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), while hearing the plea of a woman employee who levelled sexual harassment allegations against its chief R.K. Pachauri.

Justice R.S. Endlaw, asking the government to inform it about this by September 24, said: "What is you role in funding to TERI? What is the extent of funding?"

Appearing for central government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain told the court that the government only "funded certain projects of TERI and had no control over its management".

"We are not funding every projects, we are funding those projects which are in our policy. We have absolutely no control over TERI," he added.

The court was hearing a plea of the woman alleging that the organisation had not taken any action against Pachauri as recommended by an internal complaints committee in connection with her sexual harassment complaint.

The woman said TERI and its governing council primarily failed to treat it as a misconduct or suspend him Pachauri as recommended by the committee in its report.

The petition filed by the woman also sought directions to TERI and its governing council to give a declaration that they would abide by the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act and Rules.