Stephen’s teachers protest ‘outsider treasurer’

The corridors of St Stephen's College once again reverberated with sloganeering and protests on Tuesday. A group of about 15 faculty members, supported by 40 students, protested against what they called the "imposition of an outsider" as the treasurer of the college.

The corridors of St Stephen's College once again reverberated with sloganeering and protests on Tuesday.

A group of about 15 faculty members, supported by 40 students, protested against what they called the "imposition of an outsider" as the treasurer of the college.

A college governing body meeting was simultaneously on.

They claimed the appointment of an outsider would compromise the financial autonomy of the college.

College Supreme Council and Governing Body member Nirmal Andrews was appointed the treasurer.

They were also protesting against the alleged ill-treatment of the Economics Department head N Raghunathan. He was reportedly prevented from participating in a recent governing body meeting.

"Never in the history of the college has the bursar been appointed by anyone other than the principal as he has to handle public money," said Nandita Narain, St Stephen's college math teacher.

“The Delhi University Ordinance XVIII says the bursar has to be appointed by the governing body on the recommendation of the principal. But the college constitution says the treasurer could appoint the Bursar,” Narain said.

All these 120 years, the principal was appointed as the treasurer by the Governing Body, which, in turn, appointed the bursar.