RK Pachauri case shows the perverse times we live in

There are times when it is difficult to find words to adequately express one's disgust over the conduct of people one knows, people who belong to the same peer group, who share the same social and cultural background and are a part of the same network. The shamelessness, the brazenness and the blatancy with which RK Pachauri, the former Director General (DG) of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) facing accusations of sexual harassment levelled by a female employee, has manipulated and bullied his way back into a position even more powerful than the one which he had, must rank as one of the most bizarre examples of the way in which powerful persons can not only avert possible punishment but be handsomely rewarded for their misdeeds. We live in perverse times.

Let's briefly recapitulate the developments. A former woman researcher at TERI had filed a case of sexual harassment against Pachauri in February 2015. The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) which went into the allegations upheld the charges.

During this period, the accused proceeded on leave which he granted to himself being the administrative head of the organisation and remained in an ambiguous suspended status while still wielding control over administration through a favourite subordinate.

Also read: Pachauri would call me to his room, try to touch me: Another TERI victim speaks out

The complainant was shown no sympathy and provided no support as mandated by law. On the other hand, she was put under extraordinary pressure to withdraw her complaint and "settle" the matter out of court. The governing council did not find the time to consider the report of the ICC which upheld the accusations against the DG and the delay allowed Pachauri to have the ICC Report made sub judice.

While a successor was appointed, it was ensured that the succession would not take place until much later, so that meanwhile, Pachauri, through the means of an anticipatory bail order could resume control over the organisation and give up his position as DG only when he was elevated to a higher position without losing his executive powers.

Meanwhile, life was made difficult for the chair of the ICC so much so that the incumbent found herself incapable of facing the stress and resigned from TERI. The complainant herself, finding complete lack of support from the authorities left the organisation in utter disgust.

The police and the prosecution, ever willing to oblige the powerful, have been delaying the investigation so that attrition can eventually kill the case. The courts are willing to go along with this. After all we are like that only.

What has been more shocking than Pachauri's conduct is the utter disregard shown by the TERI governing council not just to norms of organisational propriety and good governance and the plight of those most vulnerable to abuse of power but to the rule of law.

These are persons one knows, persons who occupy a position of great respect, persons who are entrusted with responsible exercise of authority, persons who are expected to set standards for ethical conduct - and they remain not merely silent when they see such blatant abuse of power but are actually complicit in this shameful demonstration of the perversity of the privileged classes.

Also read: How many sexual harassment complaints against Pachauri does it take to be heard?

Worse still is the silence of our women activists, of our liberal Left intellectuals and except until two days ago of our media, confirming one's worst suspicions that when it comes to the conduct of "People Like Us", the standards of activism we follow are very different. For once, it seems, the nation would rather not know. Shame.

Over the last year, the case figured on the collective Indian consciousness but did not generate any serious concern or outrage. Lutyens' Delhi recalled earlier incidents that involved the famous and powerful Indian elite including media honchos, who indulged in similar acts and the manner in which the system - both state agencies and civil society - turned a blind eye to them.

A familiar omerta appears to be at play in the Pachauri case. It is understood that the TERI board, which includes corporate and other luminaries, have given the benefit of doubt to the DG. Consequently, the victim has been compelled to leave TERI and Pachauri (aka Patchy) has been reinstated as the vice chairman of TERI with executive authority.