The Hindu : New Delhi News : Green signal for action against St. Stephen’s College

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Green signal for action against St. Stephen’s College

Staff Reporter

The lawyer representing the college seeks adjournment on account of being busy
Two senior History lecturers, who were served notices, filed their responses

NEW DELHI: Even as it listed a petition challenging appointment of St. Stephen’s College Principal Valson Thampu for final hearing on January 24, the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) in an order on Wednesday gave Delhi University the green signal to initiate necessary action against the institution.

Respondent

In its order, NCMEI “clarified that the Commission has not restrained the respondent University for taking any corrective measure in the matter in accordance with law”.

The Commission is hearing a petition filed by Sheetal P. Singh alleging illegal appointments of Principal Valson Thampu, Vice-Principal M. S. Frank and Bursar N. Raghunathan.

The lawyer representing the college sought adjournment on Wednesday on account of his being busy in another case in the Supreme Court.

The NCMEI had issued notices to the University, Chairman of the Governing Body and Supreme Council of St. Stephen’s College and the University Grants Commission on the basis of the petition that claimed the Council’s appointment of Mr. Thampu as Officer on Special Duty was illegal, arbitrary and wholly unjustified.

In its affidavit before NCMEI, Delhi University had recently submitted that Mr. Thampu’s appointment was illegal as he did not fulfil the qualifications as per the conditions mentioned in the University’s ordinance.

Recently Mr. Thampu had acquired a Ph.D degree, a prerequisite for being appointed as principal of a Delhi University college. In another development related to the college, two senior History lecturers who were served with show-cause notices accusing them of “abusing the teaching space” filed their responses on Wednesday.

Incidentally, one of the teachers, Tasneem Suhrawardy, is the younger sister of Anees Suhrawardy, who is Sheetal Singh’s lawyer.

Evidence

The other teacher, Sangeeta Luthra Sharma, claimed she had written to Mr. Thampu this past Friday seeking evidence on the basis of which he had issued the show-cause notice.

Both the teachers said their students and colleagues were “appalled” at the development.

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