After sexual harassment charges, RK Pachauri says no to key IPCC meet

New Delhi, Feb 22: Days after a female employee at TERI has alleged sexual harassment by Nobel laureate R.K. Pachauri, media reports say that the IPCC chairperson won't attend the committee's plenary session next week in Nairobi.

According to media reports, the 75-year-old has informed IPCC he will be unable to chair the plenary session of the IPCC in Nairobi next week (beginning February 24) because of "issues demanding his attention in India".

The statement issued on Saturday by the IPCC reads that it "will have no further comment on the issues demanding Dr Pachauri's attention".

Pachauri is the world's top climate change official and chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He is also the Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute ( TERI).

A few days ago, a woman who worked at the TERI alleged that Pachuri had been sexually assaulting her since she joined the organization in September 2013. She further accused that professor used to send obnoxious messages through emails.

The Police have registered a case under various section of IPCs related with offence of outraging modesty of a woman.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court lifted its order restraining publication of reports on the alleged harassment complaint by a woman research analyst to Delhi police against Rajendra K. Pachauri.

Justice Jayant Nath modified his previous order where he restrained publication of articles against Pachauri after applications was made by Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd. to allow publication of reports on action taken by police in the case, the outcome of the proceedings before the sexual harassment committee, and court proceedings.

In the order passed on Wednesday and made available Thursday, the court said: "In my opinion, keeping in view the liberty of the press under Article 19(1)(a) of the constitution of India for the time being, in the interest of justice, interim order passed on Feb 17, 2015 is modified to the above extent. It is ordered accordingly."

OneIndia News