Concerns of students to be taken up by gov council: TERI Univ

Concerns of students regarding posts held by R K Pachauri would be taken up by the green body's governing council, TERI University said today even as it asserted that its process and systems go "beyond dependence" on a single indivudual.
Days after students and alumni protested against Pachauri's elevation to the post of executive vice chairman in TERI and refused to accept degree certificates from him, acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Rajiv Seth today held seperate interactions with students' body and faculty.
The interactions came even as TERI's governing council met today to discuss the "roles, responsibilities and leadership" of the organisation.

TERI had yesterday said that Pachauri's role is to ensure a "smooth transition" for Ajay Mathur, who has been appointed its new Director General.
"While allaying apprehensions of students on various fronts, he (Seth) reiterated the fact that the TERI University is a research and academic institution with global repute, built up over the years through rigorous proven standards of education and research capabilities.
Despite battling allegations of multiple sexual

harassment, Pachauri was recently elevated to the newly created post of Executive Vice Chairman, a move which triggered severe critisism from the alumuni and women activists across the country.
Following the protests, Pachauri, the Chancellor of the varsity, had yesterday proceeded on leave and said he will not be attending the convocation scheduled to be held on March 7 this year.

The university reiterated that Pachauri is on leave and will not be presiding over the convocation ceremony.
Some alumni of 2013-2015 batch, had yesterday written to Seth saying the recent "inaction" of the board of management at TERI University with respect to Pachauri "deeply saddened" them.
They said that it is only the "basic and essential" good practice that he (Pachauri) may immediately recuse himself from the post of chancellor and cease involvement in TERI University matters pending completion of legal proceedings.
Asked who would be holding the position of Chancellor during Pachauri's absence, Seth had said it is yet to be decided and since the VC is involved in the day to day affairs of any university, Pachauri's going on leave will not affect the institution's functioning in anyway.