The Hindu : National : College principal resigns

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Sunday, Mar 16, 2008
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College principal resigns

New Delhi: Valson Thampu, the controversial officiating principal of the St. Stephen’s College here, on Saturday resigned from the post in the wake of protests over his appointment.

The college’s Supreme Council accepted his resignation from the posts of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and officiating principal and appointed M.S. Frank, the Vice Principal, as pro- term administrator till a full-time principal is appointed.

The Council in an urgent meeting on Saturday accepted Mr. Thampu’s resignation as OSD, a college spokesperson said.

The college has already initiated a process for appointing a principal, he said.

Mr. Thampu was appointed as the OSD of the college for three years in May last year.

However, the National Commission of Minority Education Institutions has held his appointment as “patently illegal” and said it cannot be justified under the “cloak of minority autonomy.”

Mr. Thampu’s detractors opposed his appointment, saying he did not have a PhD, a requirement for appointment as principal. Later, he acquired a PhD from Allahabad Agriculture Institute-Deemed University. However, the UGC said his PhD was not recognised by it putting him in trouble. — PTI

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