St Stephen’s teachers move HC to squash constitutional amendments

As many as 21 teachers of St Stephen’s college have filed a writ petition in the Delhi high court for squashing of proposed amendments of the college constitution in a  governing body meeting that was held on 30 November.

The teachers’ body allege that procedures laid down in the current constitution were violated that included keeping out the elected teacher representatives from the membership of Governing Body.

The teachers’ body have also asked the court to have a stay on any future changes by outgoing Principal Valson Thampu, who is due to retire on 29 February.

The writ petition titled RS Nanda and Ors vs St Stephen’s College and Ors will come up for hearing in the High Court on December 23 under Justice Rajiv Shakdher. Based on claims of one of the teachers who have filed a case, 21 more teachers are planning to file a writ in the matter highlighting additional illegalities, this would make it to 42 teachers who will be moving to court against the proposed amendment.

It is been perceived that the amendment in constitution and change in governance body is to reduce the representation of the teachers’ body and increase the power of church in the working affairs of the college. The troubled affairs of the college have been invoked in Parliament by Member of Parliament and former alumni Kirti Azad in the past  and have also witnessed a tough stance taken by the Principal Valson Thampu towards the dissenters.