NEW DELHI: R K Pachauri was on Monday appointed Executive Vice Chairman, a post created especially for him, of the research institute TERI, even as the Delhi High court is hearing a case related to sexual harassment filed against him by a former colleague. The move comes after Ajay Mathur took over as Director General.
According to TERI sources, Pachauri, being a member of governing council, will continue to have a say in operations of the institute. “There is just a change in the designation but Pachauri will continue to interfere in the working of TERI,” said sources.
Pachauri will be the first to hold the post. Mathur is a former Director General of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, an institution under the Power Ministry. Mathur was delaying taking charge as Director General as he wanted an assurance that Pachuri would not interfere in the regular working of the institution.
The victim expressed unhappiness over Pachauri’s appointment. Her lawyer quoting her said that she was feeling let down that the post had been especially created for him at TERI. The 29-year-old had quit, alleging she had been treated in the worst possible manner by the organisation.
A case was registered against Pachauri in February last year and he was granted bail in March. He was allowed to enter the TERI premises since July after a court quashed the internal committee report that found him guilty of misconduct.
He was removed as chairman of the Inter governmental Panel on Climate Change, a UN body that makes assessments of climate change science.