Pachauri sent on indefinite leave, Ashok Chawla replaces him

Former Competition Commission chief Ashok Chawla was appointed the new chairman in an apparent damage control measure.

In its meeting, the council decided that Pachauri will be on leave from TERI, its governing council and the university till further review by it, given the subjudice nature of the matter.

“The Council welcomed former Competition Commission chief Ashok Chawla as its new Chairman. The Council looks forward to his leadership of this important institute.

“The Council also inducted the new Director General, Ajay Mathur as a Member of the Council who will operate with full executive powers,” TERI said in a statement after its governing council met. The council met to discuss “key issues” relating to the functioning of the organisation.

When asked whether Pachauri was forced to go on leave or he took the decision voluntarily, TERI declined to comment on it only saying, “Our version has been made clear in our statement. There is no connotation to it.” 

Chawla, who was also the former finance secretary, was appointed the new chairman after B V Sreekantan resigned recently after being a Member of the Council for over 40 years. TERI had on Thursday said that Pachauri’s role was to ensure a “smooth transition” for Mathur.

Amid outrage over his appointment as TERI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Pachauri has proceeded on leave on Thursday from TERI University and communicated that he will skip the institution’s convocation on March 7 after a group of students refused to receive degrees from him.

Facing the heat due to multiple sexual harassment charges, Pachauri, the Chancellor of the University was recently elevated to the newly-created post, a move which triggered severe criticism from the alumni and women activists across the country.

Demanding sacking of RK Pachauri, who is facing sexual harassment charges, several woman activists on Friday demonstrated outside the green body’s office here where its Governing Council was meeting to decide on the “roles and responsibility” in the organisation. The activists also submitted a memorandum demanding sacking of Pachauri who proceeded on leave from TERI University on Thursday. 

“Another woman came out on Thursday alleging that Pachauri is a serial harasser. The people, facing sexual harassment charges, are sacked, not elevated,” a protester said.