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NEW DELHI: Protests appear to be growing within The Energy and Resources Institute against RK Pachauri ’s appointment as vice-chairman of the governing council, with 20 students who recently completed courses at Teri University saying they would not accept their degrees from Pachauri during a convocation on March 7.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.“We would like to make it clear that we are not in a position to accept our degrees from Pachauri at convocation,” the 20 former students from MSc, MTech, MA and MBA courses wrote in a letter addressed to Rajiv Seth, acting vice-chancellor, with copies sent to the university’s board of management and academic council. “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...,” the letter says.On Wednesday, an online petition was created against Pachauri on behalf of Teri ex-employees and alumni.The petition, started by Sumedha Basu, says Pachauri’s elevation “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 organization in the fear that the alleged accused will be back in a more powerful position.”The letter written by the 20 Teri alumni refers to Pachauri’s indictment within Teri. “Our rationale and conscience are clear: the internal committee constituted by Teri has found Pachauri to be guilty of having systematically abused his position of power to exploit and sexually harass a colleague…given the flow of events, it is highly probable that Pachauri has used all his political clout, media influence and networks to stall the judicial process, intimidate witnesses, coerce Teri colleagues and employees to ‘persuade’ the complainant to withdraw her case,” it said.“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,” it adds.One of the alumni members told TOI the almuni was discussing the issue in informal circles for months. “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.”Another former student has spoken out on the issue. In an internal mail to a Teri students’ group, the alumnus wrote, “Each one of us needs some soul searching at this moment; Kiran Mazumdar Shaw resigned from the governing council of Teri citing moral responsibility.” Mazumdar Shaw quit Teri’s GC in September last year.Another alumna and lawyer said she was deeply concerned that “a place of learning where ideals and values are imbibed is setting such a horrible example for students.” Saket S, yet another ex-student, said, “It’s surprising to see him resigning from IPCC’s post based on the same allegations and not resigning from Teri University. I think he should publicly dissociate himself from the Nobel peace prize too.”