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Days before HC hearing, Stephen’s principal revokes staffer’s suspension

In a u-turn, Valson Thampu, principal of St Stephen’s has revoked the suspension of its administrative officer, days before the plea was slated to be heard in High Court. Subha Kumar Das, administrative officer at the college was suspended for suspending false news and “gross misconduct”. Das alleged Thampu had forced him and his family to convert to Christianity.

“I (Valson Thampu) revoke suspension order served in order to make room for college governing body to take independent view of the matter pertaining to you. You, shall hence, rejoin duty from immediate effect”, the letter to Das read.

Interestingly, on the college website, it is mentioned that the decision to suspend Das was taken with the approval of chairman of the governing body.

He mentioned it along with detailed notes regarding Dash including some text messages exchanged between him and other members of Governing Body regarding administrative officer. According to sources, the u-turn by the principal to revoke suspension is done to negate a possibility of an injunction by the High Court. “Also, this may be a mere smokescreen as the majority of the members of the governing body are colleagues of the principal from Church of North India as well as his associates and nominees,” said sources.

Valson Thampu has a controversial past regarding his PhD degree and is also infamous for his bullying nature. Thampu first came into limelight in 2008 because of his ‘fake’ PhD degree in theology. He did not had a PhD degree till 2007 when he was appointed as officer on special duty (OSD) in the college.

According to Delhi University Ordinances, it is essential to have a PhD degree for appointment of principal or OSD. In order to authenticate his appointment for the post of principal, Thampu obtained a Theology degree from Allahabad Agricultural University, which was not recognised by the University Grants Commission.
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