St Stephen's teachers write to UGC over autonomy

Stating that the decision was made in a hurried manner without consulting stakeholders, the teachers urged the UGC to reconsider the application. While the first letter was sent on April 16, another letter was written on April 28 by the staff association, which passed a resolution against the decision.

During a governing body emergent meeting on February 25, 2017, the college, in-principle, decided to apply for autonomy. Opposing the move, the teachers and students said it would let the college start self-financing courses, change service conditions, and give it the autonomy to increase fees. Principal John Varghese had promised the staff council that the application will be sent only after consultation.

The teachers wrote, "As a small constituent college of DU, the college has benefited tremendously from the large pool of academic expertise of the faculty in University departments as well as other colleges, e.g. in terms of framing high-quality syllabi and conducting credible examinations."

"Separation from the larger parent body would make the college an inviable academic unit, and lead to lowering of academic standards," the teachers further said in a official statement released on Monday.