TERI Alumni Refuse to Accept Degrees from RK Pachauri

Protests against RK Pachauri’s appointment as vice-chairman of the governing council of TERI have intensified.

Dr RK Pachauri has been accused of sexually harassing a junior colleague. (Photo: Reuters)

Protests against RK Pachauri’s appointment as vice-chairman of the governing council of The Energy and Resources Institute have intensified, with 20 students who have completed courses at TERI university, saying that they would not accept their degrees from Pachauri during the convocation on 7 March 2016, reports The Times of India.

Pachauri, who faces charges of sexually harassing a colleague, is currently out on bail.

We would like to make it clear that we are not in a position to accept our degrees from Pachauri at the convocation. We reiterate the trajectory that the university is taking is dangerous and grossly inconsiderate, and as alumni, we sincerely hope that TERI University’s board of management seriously re-evaluates Pachauri’s continuing role as chancellor...

<b>Letter to Rajiv Seth, Acting Vice-chancellor</b>

TERI ex-employees and alumni began a change.org petition demanding the reversal of Pachauri’s appointment.

It sends out an extremely wrong message to all TERI employees and TERI University students... It is doubtful that any TERI employee would ever report any injustice, misconduct, malpractice, discrimination or suppression in the organisation in the fear that the alleged accused will be back in a more powerful position.

<b>Sumedha Basu, Petitioner </b>

As we take small steps in building our careers at different institutions of repute, it is becoming increasingly unviable for us to stay silent on this matter, which we consider to be an absolute contempt of principles, ethics and the law [...] We were told that the degree would be given by Ajay Mathur, the current director general. But eventually we got mails saying Pachauri would be handing over the degrees. We decided we have to register our protest.

<b>Alumni</b>

Also read:
Another RK Pachauri Sexual Harassment Victim Breaks Her Silence
There Were Two Other Pachauri Victims Who the Police Ignored