New Delhi: In a first in the history of Delhi University's St Stephen's College, its interview panel for undergraduate admissions this year will include one member of the college’s Supreme Council, which comprises six members of the Church of North India (CNI).
It is for the first time that a non-academic person from outside the faculty of the college been made a member of the admissions procedure of the undergraduates.
The announcement, made by college principal John Varghese, has been met with strong criticism from the faculty members as it brings the college’s admission process under a conflict of interest.
In a meeting of St Stephen’s College Staff Council, principal John Varghese said that the “interview panel for selection of students for admission to the college will include a member of the Supreme Council.”
The Supreme Council is the subset of six members of the Governing Body (Managing Committee) all members of the Church of North India. The Chairperson of both the Supreme Council and the Governing Body is the Bishop of Delhi, and Member Secretary of both is the Principal.
Almost all permanent teachers present at the meeting protested strongly against the unilateral announcement. Later in the evening, a statement was issued by Nandita Narain, Associate Professor, department of Mathematics, member of governing body, N P Ashley, Assistant Professor, department of English, member of governing body, Abhishek Singh, Assistant Professor, department of Economics, member of governing body.
The principal, however, issued a letter to the protesting teachers, saying their representatives were part of the meeting in which it was decided to implement the move.
Against Constitution of College
The decision is against the constitution of the college, the members of the governing body claimed.
The clause 4 of the college’s constitution says: “The Supreme Council of the College shall have the control of the religious and moral instruction of students of the College and of all matters affecting its religious character as a Christian College of the Church of North India; and, in addition, shall appoint, after proper advertisement, the Principal of the College who shall be a member of the Church of North India or of a Church that is in communion with the Church of North India.”
The clause 5 lays down that “the Supreme Council of the College shall have no jurisdiction over the administration of the College."