A day after R K Pachauri was asked to go on leave, a group of TERI University alumni today condemned the decision, saying it was a step to "cool the protests" while "keeping the channels open" for the environmentalist to influence the witnesses.
"On behalf of TERI alumni, we would like to express unhappiness regarding the governing council's decision of sending Pachauri on an indefinite leave.
"We condemn this decision as we believe that the council needs to understand that requesting the 'removal or suspension from a position of higher power' is not equivalent to sending him on a 'paid leave'," 2008-batch Nitasha Sharma, who is the part of the group, said.
Pachauri was yesterday asked by its governing council to go on leave from TERI, its council and TERI university, amidst mounting outrage over his elevation as executive vice chairman despite facing a swirl of sexual harassment allegations.
On February 11, Pachauri had proceeded on leave from TERI University after students had refused to receive degrees from him. He had said that he would not be part of the varsity's convocation which is scheduled to take place on March 7.
"Even on 'leave from all positions', Pachauri remains associated with TERI and the University. We perceive this decision by the council as a step to cool the current protests because it not only opens the possibility of him joining the institute anytime the governing council deems appropriate but also keeps the channel of influencing the the witnesses indirectly," Sharma said.
They alleged that the council is on the side of Pachauri and is willing to defend him at the cost of losing the respect and support of its university students.
The alumni group had submitted a letter to TERI's governing council on February 10 demanding his suspension from the green body and also started an online petition to mobilise support against him.
Former Competition Commission chief Ashok Chawla was appointed new chairman of the organisation yesterday after TERI's chairman B V Sreekantan resigned.
