Didn’t take kids of powerful, so media after me: Thampu to High Court

The officer, Subha Kumar Dash, alleged that he was being “mistreated” and was being given work that is not under the duties of an AO.

St Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu once again came under fire from the High Court on Friday during a hearing on a contempt of court case filed by the Administrative Officer of the college. The officer, Subha Kumar Dash, alleged that he was being “mistreated” and was being given work that is not under the duties of an AO.

The court of Justice Suresh Kait on Friday pulled up Thampu’s counsel advocate Romy Chacko, asking why “so many adverse reports” were coming out against the college.

The advocate, however, alleged that there was “misreporting” in “certain sections of the media” due to “bias”.

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The lawyer argued that the media was “victimising Thampu” because “he had refused out-of-turn admissions to the children of some powerful persons”.

Dash had been suspended from his post earlier this year after raising certain allegations against the college and Thampu. He was reinstated in April after the court directed both parties to settle the matter.

However, Dash – in his plea filed through advocate Sunil Mathew – has now alleged that he was being given work which is not under the duties of the AO, and had been made to sit in an “office” which is actually a “storeroom”.

The court however refused to accept the argument. It has directed the college and the AO to “explore the possibility of a settlement.” The court also did not issue any contempt notice against Thampu and will now hear the matter in July.

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