TERI internal panel finds RK Pachauri guilty of sexually harassing colleague

The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has found that former TERI Chief RK Pachauri's conduct amounted to misuse of his position and violation of the organisation's policy on sexual harassment.

The 32-page report said there was a conflict of interest, misuse of designation and violation of sexual harassment policy.

The three-panel ICC has directed TERI to initiate disciplinary action against Pachauri.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the ICC said that the complainant’s health was also adversely affected by the stress caused by the misconduct. The girl suffered from various symptoms that “are indicative of stress… she has been diagnosed with mental depression."

The panel has also reportedly recommended that the complainant be paid monetary compensation for the recurring expenses required to treat her stress-related symptoms

In February 2015, an alleged sexual harassment complaint was filed by a research assistant at TERI against Pachauri. On February 13, an FIR was registered against Pachauri on charges of sexual harassment under IPC sections 354, 354(a), 354(d) (molestation) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

The woman had submitted various text and WhatsApp messages as proof of she being harassed by Pachauri. 

RK Pachauri has also been the chairperson at Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from 2002 to 2015 (until his resignation). In 2007, the IPCC shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice-President Al Gore.