Some members of Delhi University’s Academic Council demand removal of St. Stephen’s College principal – ThePrint – PTIFeed

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Some members of Delhi University’s Academic Council on Friday demanded that St. Stephen’s College Principal John Varghese be immediately asked to demit office as he has already a five-year tenure.

Four members of the Democratic Teachers Front, also members of the meeting, raised the demand during the zero-hour of the meeting.

Varghese was appointed as the principal of St. Stephen’s College on March 1, 2016, for five years. Last year, the Supreme Council of St. Stephen’s College extended his tenure.

In August last year, Delhi University wrote to St. Stephen’s Governing Body Chairman Prem Chand Singh, declaring the extension of Varghese’s tenure as “null and void”, saying it was not done as per the due process.

In the letter dated August 22, 2022, the university alleged that the appointing authority of St. Stephen’s College did not pay attention to the provisions of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.

“The principal of St. Stephen’s College must be immediately asked to leave principalship as he has already completed five years and someone else must be appointed so that the college can begin promotions and appointments,” the four council members — Biswajit Mohanty, Monami Sinha, Vikas Gupta and Mithuraaj Dhusiya — said in a statement.

Also, they demanded justice for those teachers who were displaced as temporary or ad-hoc.

Members protested also against a Delhi University announcement asking that colleges remain open between 8 am and 8 pm, without any discussion or consultation with the Academic Council or the Executive Council.

They said that there are many issues with this, such as infrastructure and safety.

According to the statement, the members “strongly fought” against salary delays and delay of grants and funds to 12 Delhi University colleges that are entirely funded by the Delhi government.

They also condemned the “illegal” implementation of written examinations for the selection of physical education directors and librarians. PTI VA DIV

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