TERI is a great institution but it needs to be strengthened, Dr Ajay Mathur says.
Ajay Mathur, who has replaced RK Pachauri as the new chief of The Energy Research Institute or TERI, has said that ensuring that employees can work without worry about "other issues" will be his priority.
Dr Pachauri, who has been accused of sexually harassing a young colleague, was removed yesterday as chief of the non-profit think he founded.
"TERI is a great institution but it needs to be strengthened. The emphasis (will be on) to ensure people can work and deliver without having to worry about other issues," Dr Mathur told NDTV.
"I'll find out what the issues are, talk to people, and see how their concerns can be addressed as effectively as possible," he added.
TERI has faced criticism for not taking action against Dr Pachauri sooner.
A world-famous climate scientist and chief of the UN's top body on climate change for 13 years, Dr Pachauri resigned in February after a researcher said he had sexually harassed her since 2013. Earlier this month, a court allowed him to return to the organization, but said two branches would remain off-limits till the police investigation against him is completed.
In protest, several TERI employees shared their objections with the governing council, in lieu of their original plan to strike work.
The 29-year-old complainant had criticised the governing council for their "silence and inaction".
He was "welcomed back to his office with garlands and flowers, while I am being shunted out of work", she said.
The governing council of TERI includes India Inc luminaries like Naina Lal Kidwai, Kiran Shaw and Deepak Parekh.
"It was a responsible decision to appoint a successor. This will prevent the snowballing of a very controversial issue," Ms Shaw told NDTV today.