Pachauri moves HC for restraint on reporting against him

TERI Director General Rajendra K Pachauri today moved the Delhi High Court seeking setting aside of a single-judge order allowing publication of reports on the alleged sexual harassment complaint filed against him by a woman research analyst.
A bench of justices B D Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva while allowing Pachauri's plea, issued notice for May 12 to the publishers, on whose application earlier the court had allowed publication of the news on outcome of the proceedings.
The single judge had on February 18 modified his previous order where he had restrained publication of articles against Pachauri after an application moved by Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. To allow reporting of action taken by police in the case, the outcome of the proceedings before the sexual harassment committee, and court proceedings.

The single judge had said, "In my opinion, keeping in view the liberty of the Press under Article19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India for the time being, in the interest of justice, interim order passed on February 17, 2015 is modified to the above extent. It is ordered accordingly."
74-year-old Pachauri, the Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), has sought setting aside of the single judge February 18 order.
Pachauri, who appeared in person, has sought directions to stop "publication or airing of reports regarding the final outcome of the proceedings of complaint filed by the woman before the Committee under the sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act 2013".

At presently, Pachauri is on anticipatory bail granted by the trial court on March 21.

On February 13, an FIR was registered against Pachauri for the offence of sexual harassment under sections 354 A and 354 D and for criminal intimidation under section 506 of IPC at Lodhi Colony Police Station here.
Pachauri had proceeded on leave from TERI after sexual harassment charges were levelled against him by the woman.
The plea urged that the effect of publication would be to give success to the conspiracy which is aimed to destroy the reputation, standing goodwill and repute of the plaintiff.