The governing council of The Energy and Resources Institute on Friday announced the appointment of former finance secretary Ashok Chawla as its new chairman. Chawla will get full executive powers to run the institute, which means he effectively replaces former executive vice chairman RK Pachauri, who is facing allegations of sexual harrassment. Pachauri, who had headed the institute since 1982, will be on leave "till this is reviewed by the governing council given the subjudice nature of the matter", a press statement said.

The council’s decision means that Pachauri, who is currently out on bail, will have to leave the workplace till the court rules on the case. He will also not preside over the institute's convocation ceremony to be held in March, after students and alumni protested against him. At least 20 students from the university had said they would not accept their degrees from him at the upcoming TERI convocation.