File Photo: TERI chief RK Pachauri
Expressing "delight" over a court order allowing him to enter his office, TERI Director General RK Pachauri, accused of sexual harassment, said on Friday that he will work towards ensuring a safe workplace for women.
He said that TERI has been his life's work and he remains deeply committed to its mission.
However, activists who had earlier raised questions as to why he had not been suspended by the institution expressed shock over the order and termed him as a "threat" who will try to destroy evidence.
"I am delighted to rejoin my colleagues at TERI and to resume my duties. TERI has been my life's work and I remain deeply committed to its mission and its people. Together we can make even greater contributions to human society through sustainable development based on justice and equity.
"I particularly look forward to further strengthening a culture at TERI that encourages excellence, recognises and rewards merit and ensures a safe and secure workplace that is sensitive to human values and dignity, particularly in respect to gender and social class," Mr Pachauri said in a statement.
He said that they can work together for the benefit of humanity.
"Together we can act as an agent of change for the benefit of humanity. I intend to achieve this goal by working closely with all stakeholders, including government, business, civil society, research organisations, academia and grassroots organisations."
Mr Pachauri has been allowed by a Delhi court to enter his office premises except the head office and a branch in Gurgaon. Additional Sessions Judge Raj Kumar Tripathi allowed the plea to modify the earlier order restricting his entry into the offices of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
74-year-old Pachauri, heads TERI, where a woman employee had filed a complaint with the police levelling allegations of sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary PUCL, said that the order comes as a "rude shock" and termed Pachauri as a "threat" as he may try to destroy evidences.
"Its come as a rude shock that after so much evidence of this man (Pachauri) having made unwelcome advances and troubled the girl, its shocking that the court could do this.
"The Delhi police should immediately appeal in a higher court. He is a threat. He will try to destroy all evidence. We have to build public opinion against this," she told PTI.
Terming the court order as "sad", All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) general secretary Jagmati Sangwan said, women's group will meet shortly to strategies their future course of action.
"There is a danger as he (Pachauri) would try to destroy evidences as the position he holds, he is capable of doing so.
The women's organisation will meet and evolve the further strategy. We will discuss our further action," she said.
Demanding RK Pachauri's resignation from TERI, lawyers and civil society activists had earlier questioned why he was not suspended. They had also alleged that some material evidence were "being deleted" from the institute's computers and servers.
In two separate letters to TERI's governing council, senior lawyers Indira Jaising and activist Vrinda Grover among others had questioned how Pachauri was allowed to have the "extraordinary benefit" of going on leave, saying it added "insult to injury".
Apart from Jaising and Grover, others signatories of the letter were former Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed, secretary of All India Progressive Women's Association Kavita Krishnan, Jagori Director Suneeta Dhar, senior journalist Pamela Philipose, PUCL national secretary Kavita Srivastava and JNU professor Nivedita Menon.
Meanwhile, in a brief statement a TERI spokesperson said: "We respect the court's judgement".