Row over St Stephen’s principal on panel

Delhi University's governing body members contested new principal Susan Elias's membership, citing her "unrecognized" status and illegal appointments by St Stephen's College.

Delhi University-nominated members of St Stephen’s College’s governing body opposed the participation of newly appointed principal Susan Elias as a member of the body, contending that an “unrecognised” principal could not be a member, according to a university official.

The official said that the absorption of John Varghese as a professor in the English department, following the completion of his tenure as the principal, also drew strong criticism.

The official said that the absorption of John Varghese as a professor in the English department, following the completion of his tenure as the principal, also drew strong criticism from the two DU nominee and four permanent teaching staff members of the governing body.

DU registrar Vikas Gupta said, “Our university representatives (senior professors) opposed all the illegality committed by St Stephens College, including appointments...”

He said that the appointment of the new principal violates the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2018 norms for academic appointments.

The college’s governing body and the principal did not respond to queries sent by HT.