BackTribunal can decide on R.K Pachauri’s plea in sexual harassment case: Delhi HC
Pendency of R.K Pachauri’s plea before the Delhi HC will not preclude the tribunal from proceeding with the appeal and passing an appropriate order in accordance with law
PremiumNew Delhi: The Delhi high court (HC) on Friday cleared the way for continuation of proceedings before the industrial tribunal which is hearing former Teri chief R.K Pachauri’s plea against findings of an internal complaints committee (ICC) in a sexual harassment case brought against him.
“We are keeping the main petition pending and it is open to the tribunal to continue with its proceedings. Pendency of the main plea before the Delhi high court will not preclude the industrial tribunal from proceeding with the appeal and passing an appropriate order in accordance with law." said a bench headed by G. Rohini, chief justice of the Delhi high court.
The order passed added that the final order passed in the appeal by the tribunal would take effect only after requisite permission is obtained from the high court.
Doing so, the court upheld an earlier order of 17 May, 2016 which had allowed the industrial tribunal proceedings to continue, subject to final approval of any order passed by it by the high court.
The court was hearing a plea by a woman, a former Teri employee who had alleged that the institution had not acted against Pachauri as per the recommendations of the ICC in connection with her sexual harassment complaint. She had also challenged the tribunal’s jurisdiction to hear appeals against the ICC report.
Three women have spoken out against alleged sexual harassment by Pachauri till now. He has been charged with sexual harassment under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.
The main petition would be heard on 10 April.
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