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Indian Energy Institute Replaces Director Accused of Sexual Harassment Indian Energy Institute Replaces Director Accused of Sexual Harassment
(about 1 hour later)
NEW DELHI — The governing council of a leading energy institute in India is replacing its director-general, the former head of a United Nations panel on climate change, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment from an employee. NEW DELHI — The governing council of a leading energy institute in India is replacing its director general, the former head of a United Nations panel on climate change, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment from an employee.
In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, the Energy and Resources Institutenamed a new director but did not give a reason for its decision to replace Rajendra K. Pachauri, who has led the organization for 34 years. The statement said the institute first discussed new leadership last year. In a statement posted on its website on Thursday, the Energy and Resources Institute named a new director but did not give a reason for its decision to replace Rajendra K. Pachauri, who led the organization for 34 years. The statement said the institute first discussed new leadership last year.
Dr. Pachauri, 74, was accused of assault and criminal intimidation by a 29-year-old female research analyst at the organization in February. According to the woman’s lawyer, Prashant Mendiratta, Dr. Pachauri sent her inappropriate emails and texts after she rebuffed his physical advances.Dr. Pachauri, 74, was accused of assault and criminal intimidation by a 29-year-old female research analyst at the organization in February. According to the woman’s lawyer, Prashant Mendiratta, Dr. Pachauri sent her inappropriate emails and texts after she rebuffed his physical advances.
The institute position is the second one Dr. Pachauri has forfeited this year. In February, he resigned from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body that he had led as chairman for 13 years. In his resignation letter, Dr. Pachauri said responding to the harrassment allegations would distract from his work on the panel. The institute position is the second one Dr. Pachauri has forfeited this year. In February, he resigned from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations body that he had led as chairman for 13 years. In his resignation letter, Dr. Pachauri said responding to the harassment allegations would distract from his work on the panel.
In May, an internal complaints committee at the institute found that Dr. Pachauri had harassed the employee and recommended action against him, Mr. Mendiratta said. But a Delhi court ordered the institute not to take any action after Dr. Pachauri’s lawyers argued that the investigation and the committee’s confidential report were unfair to their client, Mr. Mendiratta said.In May, an internal complaints committee at the institute found that Dr. Pachauri had harassed the employee and recommended action against him, Mr. Mendiratta said. But a Delhi court ordered the institute not to take any action after Dr. Pachauri’s lawyers argued that the investigation and the committee’s confidential report were unfair to their client, Mr. Mendiratta said.
The Delhi Police are also investigating the woman’s complaint, but have not filed formal charges against Dr. Pachauri. Through his lawyers, he has denied the allegations, saying that his computer and phone may have been hacked.The Delhi Police are also investigating the woman’s complaint, but have not filed formal charges against Dr. Pachauri. Through his lawyers, he has denied the allegations, saying that his computer and phone may have been hacked.
In March, a Delhi court ordered Dr. Pachuari to stay away from the institute’s offices until the police investigation was concluded, but on July 17, it allowed him to visit some locations. Ashish Dixit, a lawyer for Dr. Pachauri, said he then resumed his duties at the institute.In March, a Delhi court ordered Dr. Pachuari to stay away from the institute’s offices until the police investigation was concluded, but on July 17, it allowed him to visit some locations. Ashish Dixit, a lawyer for Dr. Pachauri, said he then resumed his duties at the institute.
The decision by the governing council to replace Dr. Pachauri came as it was facing criticism over his return.The decision by the governing council to replace Dr. Pachauri came as it was facing criticism over his return.
The Delhi police said this month that Dr. Pachauri was “influencing witnesses,” according to the Press Trust of India, a claim his lawyer denied. Vrinda Grover, a women’s rights advocate and a human rights lawyer in New Delhi, said the energy institute did not adequately protect Dr. Pachauri’s accuser.The Delhi police said this month that Dr. Pachauri was “influencing witnesses,” according to the Press Trust of India, a claim his lawyer denied. Vrinda Grover, a women’s rights advocate and a human rights lawyer in New Delhi, said the energy institute did not adequately protect Dr. Pachauri’s accuser.
“He should have been asked to step down right away,” she said. “For a fair investigation to happen, if the accused is at the head of the council, it doesn’t take a lawyer to know that he needs to step down.”“He should have been asked to step down right away,” she said. “For a fair investigation to happen, if the accused is at the head of the council, it doesn’t take a lawyer to know that he needs to step down.”
B. V. Sreekantan, the chairman of the governing council, declined to comment on the decision. One of the council’s most prominent members, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the chairwoman of the biotechnology firm Biocon, did not reply to an email requesting comment. Dr. Pachauri’s successor isAjay Mathur, the director general of the Indian government’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency.B. V. Sreekantan, the chairman of the governing council, declined to comment on the decision. One of the council’s most prominent members, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the chairwoman of the biotechnology firm Biocon, did not reply to an email requesting comment. Dr. Pachauri’s successor isAjay Mathur, the director general of the Indian government’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
Dr. Pachauri has been one of the world’s most prominent voices on the dangers of global warming, and the Energy and Resources Institute has been at the forefront of the conversation in India, with 1,200 employees and affiliates in London and Washington. The scope of its activities are wide — publishing research and carrying out projects in renewable energy, water management, and pollution levels throughout India. Dr. Pachauri accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.Dr. Pachauri has been one of the world’s most prominent voices on the dangers of global warming, and the Energy and Resources Institute has been at the forefront of the conversation in India, with 1,200 employees and affiliates in London and Washington. The scope of its activities are wide — publishing research and carrying out projects in renewable energy, water management, and pollution levels throughout India. Dr. Pachauri accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Though India began a national debate on sexual violence after the gang rape of a woman on a bus in New Delhi in 2012, and has subsequently strengthened laws against sex crimes, advocates for women say Indians are less aware of sexual harassment at work.Though India began a national debate on sexual violence after the gang rape of a woman on a bus in New Delhi in 2012, and has subsequently strengthened laws against sex crimes, advocates for women say Indians are less aware of sexual harassment at work.
“The issue of sexual harassment at the workplace is an issue that we are only now beginning to engage with,” Ms. Grover said. “Women are forcing them to engage with it as a serious issue.”“The issue of sexual harassment at the workplace is an issue that we are only now beginning to engage with,” Ms. Grover said. “Women are forcing them to engage with it as a serious issue.”