TERI ends association with R K Pachauri

New Delhi, Aug 30 (PTI) TERI has ended its last majorassociation with R K Pachauri who has been facing sexualharassment charges with former finance secretary Ashok Chawlareplacing him as the chancellor of the university. The announcement of Chawla replacing Pachauri wasconveyed to the students of the university today by its provice chancellor Rajiv Seth. Earlier named as the chairman of TERI, Chawla will replacePachauri who had proceeded on leave after communicating thathe will skip the institution’s convocation in March after agroup of students refused to receive degrees from him. Asked whether Pachauri’s association with TERI and itsuniversity has ended, Seth confirmed the development to PTIsaying "Yes". He said, "Although the decision was taken during a meetingon August 19, we had a board of management meeting yesterday. "So I thought it would be prudent to announce to thestudents only after that. I passed the information to thestudents today," he said. Asked whether Pachauri continues to remain on leave, Sethsaid, "There is a new chancellor now. So the leaveautomatically ceases". Asked when Chawla will join, Seth said, "He is already thechancellor. He (Chawla) is travelling as of now. He would beback by end of the week." TERI’s Governing Council had appointed Chawla as its newChairman and inducted Ajay Mathur as the new Director General. On February 13 last year an FIR was registered againstPachauri on charges of sexual harassment of a former employeeunder IPC sections 354, 354(a), 354(d) (molestation) and 506(criminal intimidation). In February this year another woman came out in publicmaking similar allegations against Pachauri. The woman, who claimed Pachauri made sexual advances ather more than 10 years ago, had also slammed TERI forappointing Pachauri as executive vice-chairman. PTI TDS KUNZMNKUN