Just when the St Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu is caught up in an unseemly gagging row – a group of former college students on Monday alleged that Thampu’s appointment as the principal is “illegal”.
The principal doesn’t have a PhD degree in a subject taught in the college, the Association of Old Stephanians, not recognised by the college, said.
The association has pointed out a 2008 letter of the then Dean of Colleges, Prof Nayanjot Lahiri, in which she says that Thampu’s appointment has been found illegal on the similar grounds.
“The letter states while detailing the minimum qualifications and experience prescribed by the UGC regulations and adopted by the University of Delhi under Ordinance XXIV, amongst others, that incumbents shortlisted for the post of Principal should possess a PhD in a relevant subject i.e., a subject taught in the college. This is because ordinance of the university recognises the principal as a teacher. Valson Thampu has done his PhD in Theology, a subject not taught in St Stephen’s College,” the association said in a press statement.
“It is a cause of great concern and worry how this appointment was therefore made in the first place and then allowed by both the University of Delhi and the UGC,” the statement added.
Thampu was appointed as the principal on September 12, 2008. But barely a year later, former vice-principal of the college, MS Frank, challenged his appointment in Delhi High Court on the grounds similar to those raised by the alumni association.
However, the court had upheld his appointment, saying it would not interfere with the experts’ decision on his selection.
According to the alumni group, the teachers of St Stephen’s College had also written on March 8, 2010 to the Vice Chancellor “to make a decisive intervention and to take appropriate investigative and remedial measures under the relevant rules and laws”.
Ashish Joshi, media coordinator of the alumni association, said they have asked DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh to intervene in the matter.
“The continuation of Thampu as the principal of St Stephen’s College is not in tune with the rules, and action to remove him and restore the rule of law in this prestigious University is therefore the only reasonable and legal solution,” he said.
Thampu was recently in the eye of storm for suspending a student e-zine, and later slapping a 10-day suspension order on founding editor and co-founder of ‘Stephen’s Weekly’.