St Stephen’s college: Governing body recording secy resigns, 8 members abstain from meeting

A draft circulated by principal Valson Thampu proposing changes in the constitution was to be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting went on for nearly seven hours though only 10 of 18 members were present.

Currently, St Stephen’s GB has two teacher representatives instead of four, and they too abstained, leaving the meeting short of quorum.

The Supreme Council and the GB of the college have authority to cancel, vary or amend rules affecting their respective functions, provided this is done at two special meetings of these bodies, called for the purpose, at which at least two-thirds of the members will be present, and a two-thirds majority is obtained, as per the institution’s constitution.

Thampu as well as the remaining GB members were tight-lipped about the discussions at the meeting. Thampu, who is retiring in February next year, has come up with a draft in which he has proposed that the principal be empowered to take disciplinary action against students or staff irrespective of the GB’s opinion. He has also called for giving a major say to the Church of North India (CNI) in the functioning of the college, handing over the powers to appoint faculty and admissions to its Supreme Council and recasting the composition of the GB.

The draft also proposes to replace the St Stephen’s College Trust, which currently runs the college, with a St Stephen’s Educational Society that will have the power to establish Stephen’s-like private institutions across the country.

While St Stephen’s faculty as well as the staff association have rejected the proposed amendments and urged the GB to delay the process, if any, till Thampu retires, CNI members have come out in support, saying the amendments will be in benefit of students and the institution.

The faculty members have also raised concerns that St Stephen’s has not held any consultations with Delhi University (DU) and the University Grants Commission (UGC). According to DU statutes, any such move without consultation with the varsity’s Executive Council is in violation of the rules and might result in derecognition of the college.

It may also result in the prestigious college losing funds from the UGC, which currently provides 95 per cent funding to the institution, with the remaining coming from the CNI-controlled St Stephen’s Trust.