On a day when RK Pachauri, who is facing charges of sexual harassment, proceeded on leave, TERI today said that the role of the environmentalist is to ensure a "smooth transition" for Ajay Mathur, who has been appointed the new Director General.
Amid outrage over Pachauri's appointment as TERI's executive vice chairman, the green body said that the governing council will meet tomorrow and decide on the "roles, responsibilities and leadership" of the organisation.
"The Governing Council has appointed Ajay Mathur as DG with full executive powers to run the organisation. Dr RK Pachauri's role is to ensure a smooth transition to the new DG.
"The Governing Council is meeting again tomorrow and will issue a detailed statement on the roles, responsibilities and leadership at TERI. Till then we urge you to avoid any speculation on the matter," a TERI spokesperson said in a statement.
Pachauri today proceeded on leave and will also skip TERI University's convocation on March 7 after a group of students refused to accept degrees from him.
Despite facing sexual harassment charges, Pachauri, the Chancellor of the University, was recently elevated to the newly-created post, a move which triggered severe criticism from the alumni and women activists across the country.
Some alumni of the 2013-2015 batch had on Wednesday written to Rajiv Seth, acting VC of TERI University, saying the "inaction" of the board of management at TERI University with respect to Pachauri had "deeply saddened" them.
