Sexual harassment case: Legal activists slam TERI for 'delayed' removal of Pachauri

New Delhi: Legal activists on Thursday slammed the Governing Council of TERI for delaying the removal of its controversial chief R K Pachauri while terming the statement issued by the organisation as ‘scandalous’.

Pachauri, who is battling charges of sexual harassment levelled by a woman colleague, was on Thursday sacked as chief of TERI, more than five months after the scandal broke out.

“It is a delayed step. He should have been asked to step down in February 2015, when the complaint was made, so that there could have been an internal complaint committee inquiry and a proper investigation,” Vrinda Grover, a lawyer and a human rights activist, said.

“The statement by the Governing Council is ‘scandalous’. They said he has been replaced not because he is guilty by the committee but it is a part of their routine search for the candidate,” she said

She said other women in the organisation have also complained of sexual harassment against Pachauri.

“There are other women who have approached me saying that he in the past has sexually harassed them. We have offered certain evidences to police.

“I have personally written letters detailing the nature of the evidence to DCP South, Premnath and Police Commissioner in March. We have never received any response. Police have refused to take the evidence on record,” she said.

Noted lawyer Indira Jai Singh said that Pachauri should have been removed the day complaint was lodged.

“This should have happened the day she (victim) had lodged a complaint of sexual harassment. All organisations give their service rules, which includes the power to suspend a person.

Questioning the working of Governing Board of the organisation, Singh said it failed to perform its duty.

“They (Governing Board) have failed in their duty to remove him. What prevented them suspending him. He was on voluntary leave and was not even there to guide the organisation,” she said.

PTI