File photo: Rajendra K. Pachauri.
Former TERI Director General RK Pachauri, facing sexual harassment allegations from a woman employee, today approached a Delhi court seeking its nod to go to China and Japan to attend global meet on environmental issues from August 21 to September 1.
In his application, Dr Pachauri said all his meetings are part of his occupation to "earn livelihood and denial of the same shall violate Article 19(1)(G) (to practise any profession, or to carry out any occupation) of the Constitution."
Dr Pachauri said that being a world-renowned scientist on global climate change; he was scheduled to deliver a lecture on a report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at the International Ecosystem Management Partnership (IEMP) in China from August 22-28.
"The applicant is scheduled to meet various scientists of the world and deliver lecture on the IPCC 5th assessment report which was prepared under his chairmanship," he said. The plea said that after the IEMP, he is scheduled to attend a meeting in Tokyo with Professor Katsuya Kodama, senior founder of U-brain TV.
"The applicant shall be meeting the professor for discussion on the implementation of the MoU entered between U-brain TV and TERI for promoting and bringing awareness for sustainable development. The meeting is scheduled on August 28 in the evening. Thereafter, on August 29, the applicant is scheduled meet Dr Wakako Hironaka, former Minister of Environment, Japan," Dr Pachauri said in his plea.
His plea will come up for hearing before the court tomorrow. Dr Pachauri sought the court's permission saying he would arrive in India on August 30.
"Therefore, the applicant is seeking permission to travel from August 21 to September 1," he said adding that he will abide with the conditions imposed if any by the court.