Teachers protest 'increased' church intererence in Stephen's College

Opposing "increased" church interference in the administrative matters of the St. Stephens College, teachers of the institution on Wednesday staged a demonstration outside the bishop's residence.

The teachers alleged that the governing body (GB) meeting which was to be held in the college premises was shifted to the residence of the bishop of Church of North India which is only the second time occurring in its 128-year history.

The meeting was to decide the new Bursar (treasurer) of the college which apparently has led the principal and bishop to be at loggerheads.

Media reported that it was the second consecutive protest by teachers in front of a GBM venue. There were protests during the last GB Meeting on November 17 too.

The teachers allege that the appointment of a new treasurer outside the college premises by a church representative was violating the university rules.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High court on Thursday chided Valson Thampu, the Principal of the college, for misusing his power in sacking a member of the institution's governing body.

The Bench said Thampu has misused his power by terminating the tenure of Ajay P Singha as a governing body member. In Singh's place Principal Thampu had chosen Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi.

The court declared that the principal only had the right to nominate a person but not to regulate an individual's tenure.

This is the second time in two months the feud between the principal and the bishop of CNI is making headlines.

In October, an amendment to the college constitution by the Church to help it play a "significant role" in the administration also led to a short tussle.