TERI council sends Pachauri on indefinite leave

Facing flak, TERI's executive vice chairman R K Pachauri on Friday proceeded on leave from two other bodies -- TERI and its governing council, which also appointed former Competition Commission chief Ashok Chawla as 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 is to ensure a "smooth transition" for Mathur.

Amid outrage over his appointment as TERI's executive vice chairman, Pachauri has proceeded on leave since 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 critisism from the alumni and women activists across the country.

"R K Pachauri, who had been at the head of the institute since 1982 will be on leave from TERI, TERI governing council, and TERI University till this is reviewed by the governing council given the subjudice nature of the matter," TERI said in the statement.

Concerns of students regarding posts held by Pachauri would be taken up by the green body's governing council, the TERI University said even as it asserted that its process and systems go "beyond dependence" on a single individual.

Days after students and alumni protested against Pachauri's elevation to the post of executive vice chairman in TERI and refused to accept degree certificates from him, acting vice chancellor of the University, Rajiv Seth on Friday held separate interactions with students' body and faculty.

The interactions came even as TERI's governing council met today to discuss the "roles, responsibilities and leadership" of the organisation.

"While allaying apprehensions of students on various fronts, he (Seth) reiterated the fact that the TERI University is a research and academic institution with global repute, built up over the years through rigorous proven standards of education and research capabilities.

"The University is proud of its established processes and systems and goes beyond dependence on a single, or few individuals. Nonetheless, the University encourages open discussions, debates and voicing of opinions. The present concerns of the students and alumni have been passed on to the Governing Council of TERI," a statement issued from the VC's office said.