Bishop’s move irks profs

Yet another chapter was added to the controversy-ridden GB affairs of St Stephen’s College when in an unprecedented move, the chairman, Bishop Sunil Singh convened a meeting of the GB of the college at his residence in Church Lane on Thursday to appoint the bursar.

Yet another chapter was added to the controversy-ridden Governing Body (GB) affairs of St Stephen’s College when in an unprecedented move, the chairman, Bishop Sunil Singh convened a meeting of the Governing Body (GB) of the college at his residence in Church Lane on Thursday to appoint the bursar.

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“The choice of place for the meeting is symbolic of the attempt by the Church of North India to virtually take over the college,” said Nandita Narain, Dean of Students, St Shephen’s College who along with a group teachers protested outside the Bishop’s residence as the meeting of the GB was underway.

Narain and 23 other teachers had protested the appointment of Nirmal Andrews, a retired IAS officer, the nominee of the bishop who was made the college treasurer.

Calling the appointment ‘unconstitutional’ Karen Gabriel who teaches English in the college said, “In the 128 years of the institution’s history, the GB has always appointed the principal as the treasurer. This is in direct contradiction to the university’s position that the bursar should be appointed by the principal in whose name the cheques are signed.”

The principal then recommends and appoints the bursar who is responsible for managing the finances of the college.

The group of protesting teachers felt that the new treasurer has no knowledge about the affairs and needs of the college hence in not fit for the post.

The treasurer will have the privilege of taking the financial decisions without taking responsibility for it since all the cheques are signed by the principal and the bursar.

The teachers were also worried that 95 per cent of their fundings come from University Grants Commision and since the University of Delhi has already registered their protest once they run the risk of losing grants if the GB issues are not resolved soon.

Professor BP Sahu, the Delhi university representative and SY Quereshi also attended the meeting though Quereshi left the meeting midway. At the time of going to press the meeting was still underway and the chairman and the GB members were not available for comments.