Delhi: St Stephen’s to go ahead with autonomy, top body gives nod

The chairman of St Stephen’s governing council has asked the principal to proceed with the application for autonomy to the college, according to a letter circulated among teachers.

St Stephen’s College principal has circulated a letter by the chairman of the governing body asking him to proceed with the application of autonomy to the college. The letter was shared with the teachers on Friday.

Autonomy means that the college will no longer be a constituent college of the Delhi University. It will be free to take its own decisions in framing syllabus, fee structure, starting new college branches and others.(Sonu Mehta/ HT File Photo)

The governing body of the college had, on March 25, decided that the college will apply for autonomy.

Autonomy means that the college will no longer be a constituent college of the Delhi University. It will be free to take its own decisions in framing syllabus, fee structure, starting new college branches and others. Students and teachers of the college have protested the decision saying it is being done without consultation.

On March 3, St Stephen’s principal John Varghese had assured the staff and students of the college that he would write to the governing body seeking permission to have discussion with stakeholders before application.

The letter by the chairman of the governing body to the principal, dated April 14, read, “The governing body is the sole decision making body of the college on policy and governance. I therefore advise you to proceed as per the decision of the governing body. In this regard, the governing body has authorised you to execute and sign all necessary proposals, documents, applications, forms, letters, undertakings to the university, University Grants Commission and make requests for requisite grants in aid.”

However, teachers and students said that no discussion has taken place in this regard and the letter is now being circulated. The teachers in the college said that with this letter, the principal is retracting from what he had promised.

“There has been no consultation and no discussion on the autonomy issue,” said a teacher.

Varghese could not be reached for comment on the matter.

The chairman has also stated in the letter that he was invited by the dean of colleges to discuss the offer of autonomy, which is a scheme of the University Grants Commission.

“The university ordinance does not have legal provision for dean of college to invite colleges to apply for autonomy. How can they do this?” said a senior teacher of the college.