St Stephen’s College Principal Valson Thampu’s public spat with a student who launched a web-based college journal was on Thursday criticised by the Delhi High Court, which told him that he should have had “some sense of humour”. The court of Justice Vibhu Bakhru pulled up Thampu and Delhi University for taking steps against the students for “speaking to the media”. The court has also asked the lawyer for philosophy student Devansh Mehta and the college to “settle the matter” as it was “not an issue for the courts”. [related-post] Mehta had approached the HC against a suspension order against him issued by Thampu after student editors released an online magazine named ‘St Stephens weekly’ without clearance from the principal. Appearing before the court, Thampu’s counsel Romy Chacko said the principal was “ready” to “sort out the matter”. Meanwhile, another controversy at the college is threatening to flare up. Administrative officer Subha Kumar Dash, who was suspended by Thampu, on Thursday filed a contempt-of-court plea against the principal. Dash had been suspended in January and reinstated on April 21 after a court order. He has moved a contempt plea after an FIR was registered against him by the administration. “Despite the HC settlement order. Thampu has violated the order of the court by having a criminal complaint filed,” says the complaint. It will be heard by the court on Friday.
