New Delhi: TERI Director General R K Pachauri, facing allegations of sexual harassment, was today allowed to enter TERI headquarters and its Gurgaon office by a Delhi court, which noted that the victim had resigned and was not associated with the institute any longer.
The court had earlier allowed Pachauri to enter his office premises, barring the Gurgaon branch where the victim was working and head office here. This order was a modification of the previous order granting him anticipatory bail but barring his entry into all TERI offices.
"As victim herself is not entering in the premises of TERI and no more associated with the institution, therefore, no prejudice would be caused either to the investigation agency or the prosecution if the application of the accused is allowed," Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tripathi said.
The judge, while allowing the application filed by advocate Ashish Dixit today, said "Order dated March 21 is modified to the extent that accused is permitted to enter and visit all the premises of TERI including the head office as well as Gurgaon office. Application is disposed off."
The court also said there was nothing on record to suggest that Pachauri had ever misused the liberty given to him or violated any bail condition.
Seeking permission for Pachauri to enter the premises, senior advocate Ramesh Gupta said his client has cooperated in the investigation and not violated any term or condition imposed on him.
He said the complainant has already resigned from the institute and was no more concerned or connected with TERI.
Investigating Officer of the case did not oppose the plea of Pachauri and said the investigation in the case was almost complete and final report, on conclusion of the probe, was likely to be filed in the court very soon.
The complainant had on November 2 resigned from her post in TERI alleging she was being treated in the "worst possible manner" by the institute, a charge denied by the organisation as "completely false and baseless".
The application said Pachauri was facing "tremendous hardship" in effectively fulfilling his duties as the Director General of TERI as majority of the employees were posted in the head office in South Delhi.
"All research facilities, laboratories etc are situated in the Head Office complex. Therefore, Pachauri's presence in those premises is extremely crucial for proper functioning and supervision by CEO/Director General of TERI," the plea said.
It said the investigation has been pending for last nine months and there was no progress in the matter as the police has not questioned him since July 17.
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).
TERI governing council had on July 23 appointed Dr Ajay Mathur, currently the director general of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), as its Director General.
Pachauri had also stepped down from United Nations' IPCC and Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change.
