NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Friday granted exemption from personal appearance to former TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute ) chief R K Pachauri , accused of sexually harassing his ex-colleague, on the ground that he is undergoing treatment for arthritis in Mexico. Metropolitan Magistrate Chetna Singh granted the relief to the accused after his counsel submitted that Pachauri was suffering from severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (inflammation of joints) and he has gone to Mexico for treatment.The magistrate said a detailed order would be passed later and posted the matter for hearing on October 25.The plea was opposed by the complainant's counsel, who said these were "delaying tactics" on the part of the accused.The exemption application filed through Pachauri's counsel Ashish Dixit said the accused was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in May this year and was undergoing treatment at Fortis hospital here. "But his condition was not improving," it said, adding that he had consulted a doctor in Mexico where he is currently undergoing some crucial tests.The application said Pachauri was to return on July 12 but "during examination by doctor, the condition of the disease of the accused was diagnosed to be critical and the doctor has directed certain urgent tests and procedures to be conducted. "It said Pachauri's non-appearance was due to his medical condition and "neither intentional nor deliberate. "The interim order further said, "When such information is published in any page of a magazine or report then it should be in middle of the page in bold letters and it should be five times larger than the font in which the article is being published."

Source: Times of India July 14, 2017 12:17 UTC