The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Stephen’s Principal being victimised’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 19, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

‘Stephen’s Principal being victimised’

Staff Reporter

For advocating social justice: Udit Raj

“Notice on a plea challenging his appointment to harass him”
“His salary, allowances were stopped for over three months”

NEW DELHI: Charging that the Principal of St. Stephen’s College, Valson Thampu, was being “victimised for standing against British merit and elite hegemony”, Indian Justice Party president Udit Raj has alleged that the recent notice issued by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) on a petition challenging his appointment was aimed at “harassing” him.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Dr. Raj alleged: “Mr. Thampu is paying the price for advocating social justice. NCMEI chairman M.S.A. Siddiqui is harassing the Principal as he denied admission in St. Stephen’s to some of his recommended candidates. The former Principal Anil Wilson and Mr. Siddiqui are engineering complaints against Mr. Thampu so that he is forced to stop the caravan of social justice.”

The NCMEI this past week issued notices to Delhi University, Chairman of the Governing Body and Supreme Council of St. Stephen’s College and the University Grants Commission on a petition alleging illegal appointments of Principal Valson Thampu, Vice-Principal M. S. Frank and Bursar N. Raghunathan. Dr. Raj, accompanied by social activist Swami Agnivesh, said the salary and allowances of Mr. Thampu as a member of NCMEI were stopped for over three months to “victimise” him.

“When Mr. Thampu was a member of NCMEI, he applied for leave to become Officer on Special Duty at St. Stephen’s College. The chairman sanctioned the leave but stopped his salary and allowances from May 21, 2007. While he was serving at the college, he kept attending meetings of the Commission, yet the chairman harassed him by serving notices. Mr. Thampu did not draw salary from St. Stephen’s College till he resigned from NCMEI on September 11,” said Dr. Raj.

Swami Agnivesh said: “It is clear that his efforts to restore commitment to social justice at St. Stephen’s College as well as his transparency in conducting admissions have resulted in inconvenience to some. He is being victimised for his uprightness in public life. Recently an incident in the college hostel was blown out of proportion as a ragging incident only to create controversies around him.” Both Dr. Raj and Swami Agnivesh have said they will launch an agitation if “harassment” of Mr. Thampu is not stopped.

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