TERI sends Pachauri on indefinite leave

New Delhi, Feb 12 TERI executive chairman R.K. Pachauri, who has been accused of sexually harassing a junior colleague, was on Friday sent on an indefinite leave by the organisation, days after being promoted as the vice chairman.

"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," a TERI statement said.

The statement also mentioned that Ashok Chawla, a former finance secretary and former chairman of the Competition Commission, will be the new TERI chairman.

"The Council welcomed 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."

The statement further read: "The process for the replacement of Dr.Pachauri as director general of TERI culminated in the appointment of Dr.Ajay Mathur as director general with full executive powers on July 23, 2015. However, as Dr.Mathur was able to join only on February 8, 2016 after he was finally relieved by the government of India, the Governing Council effected various interim arrangements so as not to destabilize the operations of the institute."