This is an archive article published on March 2, 2016
R K Pachauri holds no position here, can’t exercise any powers: TERI chief
Pachauri was sent on indefinite leave from TERI and its Governing Council, TERI’s highest decision-making body, on February 13, barely three days after he was elevated to the position of executive vice-chairman at the think-tank.
Written by Naveed Iqbal
New Delhi | March 2, 2016 02:24 AM IST
2 min read
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New TERI chief Ajay Mathur
R K Pachauri “holds no position” in The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as he is on leave, Director General of TERI Dr Ajay Mathur told The Indian Express Tuesday, hours after Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against the TERI executive vice-chairman for alleged sexual harassment of a former colleague.
“He is already on leave and when somebody is on leave, they hold no position. And they cannot exercise any powers,” said Mathur.
Pachauri was sent on indefinite leave from TERI and its Governing Council, TERI’s highest decision-making body, on February 13, barely three days after he was elevated to the position of executive vice-chairman at the think-tank.
On February 11, another former TERI employee had levelled similar allegations against Pachauri.
She also went on to say that sexual harassment by Pachauri is “an open secret” in the organisation.
[related-post]
TERI’s website now lists Pachauri as executive vice-chairman — on leave.
The second complainant had alleged that a few months into her employment, Pachauri began harassing her and did not stop until she quit.
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Referring to Pachauri as a “serial sexual harasser”, she said she was compelled to speak out after his “big promotion” and that everyone standing by him “knows the kind of man he is”.
Meanwhile, Deepak Parekh, a member of the Governing Council, stated that the council “will meet and take a decision on the matter.”
TERI’s executive powers have been vested in Mathur, who assumed charge on February 8.
However, members of the Governing Council have stated that they will await details of the chargesheet before taking a decision on the matter.
Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies.
Expertise
Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics.
Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers:
Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state.
Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights.
Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More
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New TERI chief Ajay Mathur
