February 11, 2016 08:50 IST

Amid the raging controversy of R K Pachauri being appointed as the executive vice-chairman at The Energy and Resources Institute, students have refused to accept degrees from him.

Pachauri is chancellor of Teri University, which is linked to the parent organisation. He faces charges of sexually harassing a junior colleague and is out on bail.

In a letter to the officials, the students write, “We would like to make it clear that we are not in a position to accept our degrees from Pachauri at the convocation (to be held on March 7).”

The letter to written to the acting vice-chancellor of TERI University Rajiv Seth and marked to Board of Management further reads, “The recent inaction of our board of management at TERIUniversity with respect to our current chancellor Pachauri deeply saddens us as alumni and a former student body.

"We are aware of Pachauri’s immense contributions towards building both TERI and TERIUniversity into what they have become today, and his ability to build global networks, promote the university and institute and to draw funds, projects and grants. Nevertheless, no measure of such contributions can be used to justify alleged criminal behaviour in the form of actions that cause serious harm to another human being.”

The students also request the university administration to re-consider Pachauri’s position as the vice-chancellor.

In February last year, a 29-year-old woman had accused Pachauri of sexual harassment, following which he went on leave but joined work in July after a court quashed the internal committee report that found him guilty of misconduct.

Then on Thursday, another woman came forward making similar allegations, accusing Pachauri making sexual advances more than 10 years ago. She further alleged that she had raised the matter to the administrative director of the organisation who refused to believe her allegations.

Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images