Who Protects ICC Members in Case of a Threat? TERI Asks Ministry

TERI’s Internal Complaints Committee seeks clarification on the issue of protection for its members and witnesses.

RK Pachauri (Photo: Reuters)

TERI’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is now seeking clarification on the issue of protection for ICC members and witnesses in similar cases, and has accordingly written to the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The letter was written shortly after a three-member panel indicted TERI’s Director, RK Pachauri, on charges of sexual harassment at workplace.

The letter does not make any specific references to the investigation of allegations against Pachauri. Instead tone and tenor of the latter is that the ministry should put in place a mechanism to deal with potential problems that an internal probe can encounter.
– The Economic Times

The letter particularly seeks to urge the Ministry to clarify as to which authority would protect ICC members and witnesses in case of a threat or intimidation.

The Lead-up to the Case

A 32-page report by the ICC, earlier this year, had said that there was a conflict of interest, misuse of designation and violation of sexual harassment policy by RK Pachauri.

The ET report recapitulates the facts, stating that a three-panel ICC had directed TERI to initiate disciplinary action against Pachauri for sexual harassment.

R K Pachauri was, on July 17, allowed by a Delhi court to enter his office premises.

Additional Sessions Judge, Raj Kumar Tripathi, restricted his entry to the head office in Delhi and a branch in Gurgaon.

Prominent citizens like Indira Jaisingh have openly pointed fingers at Pachauri’s re-induction and have sought his immediate removal.