New Delhi: Ajay Mathur, director-general of the bureau of energy efficiency, has been appointed as the new DG of Teri. Mr Mathur has served in leadership positions at the World Bank as director, interim secretariat, Green Climate Fund in Bonn, and in the private sector in India.
A Teri statement said the governing council discussed the question of possible action on the report of Teri’s internal complaints committee on the alleged sexual harassment. “Action on this report has been stayed by the court, which ruled that the operation of the report of the internal complaints committee shall remain stayed. This judgment of May 29, 2015 also stated that ‘the principles of natural justice have not been followed at all by the said committee, contrary to rules’. The GC of TERI respects all court proceedings and abides by its direction,” the statement added.
Significantly, the Teri statement also mentioned that Mr Pachauri had “led and built Teri over the last 34 years from a concept to a major, financially autonomous, professionally dynamic organisation on the global stage”. After removing director-general Rajendra K. Pachauri, a Teri press release said: “The governing council of Teri, at its meeting held in Bangalore, took a decision to appoint Ajay Mathur as director- general of Teri.
Mr Mathur will take up his new responsibilities as soon as he is in a position to do so, subsequent to being relieved from his current responsibilities by the Government of India after a brief period of transition.” The GC observed that the issue of succession to the current leadership of Teri was first discussed in detail by the GC meeting held in Mumbai in September 2014.
Subsequently, a well-known search firm was entrusted with the task of carrying out a search of candidates for the position, which they performed pro bono and provided the GC with a slate of candidates shortlisted by them. “The decision to appoint Ajay Mathur is, therefore, the culmination of an extensive search process and an intensive evaluation of candidates from across the globe,” the statement said. “All efforts will be made to aid and assist Ajay Mathur in a smooth and expeditious transition as the latter assumes responsibility as Teri’s new chief executive.
“The GC is certain that the 1,200 persons working for Teri in different parts of the world would welcome this development and extend all their support towards a smooth transition and ensuring that this unique Indian organisation with a global presence and universal reach attains greater heights in the future,” the statement further said.
