Alumni can't interfere in college matters: St Stephen's

New Delhi, May 4: St Stephen's College's Supreme Council today passed a resolution stating that its alumni have not right to interfere in its internal matters even as a group of former students alleged "rampant illegalities" in the functioning of the college and sought the HRD Ministry's intervention.

The Association of Old Stephanians, a body not recognised by the college, today released a 'White Paper' detailing alleged financial and administrative illegalities in the college and also sent copies of the same to the PMO and the HRD Ministry seeking their intervention.

The alumni association, which has been raising allegations against college principal Valson Thampu, was joined today by Delhi University Teacher's Association (DUTA) which alleged inaction by DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh despite repeated complaints to him.

"Given the rampant illegalities that plague the running of the college, it has now become imperative for urgent intervention by the HRD Ministry as well as a comprehensive audit by the office of CAG," the association's media coordinator Ashish Joshi told reporters here.

The 'White Paper' has raised several allegations including the appointment of Thampu being illegal in view of improper qualifications, illegal appointment of college chairman, improper functioning of the Governing Body and victimisation of several persons by principal leading to litigation in courts.

The college's Supreme Council, which is the decision making body of the institution, resolved that certain alumni are resorting to "false propaganda" and the college shall not be forced to deviate from "its time-tested traditions, conventions and convictions, nor forego its Constitutional rights, through any tactic or strategy based on it."

"Members of the Supreme Council in its meeting today expressed their disappointment at the false propaganda against the college involving certain alumni and others who have been misusing their media connections for this purpose.

"The council also noted with concern that the Christian character of the greatly reputed minority institution has been, and is being, attacked in order to degrade it," college principal Thampu told PTI.

The resolution passed by the Council stated, "the alumni have no right to interfere in the administration and internal life of the College. Only the Supreme Council and the Governing Body, with the Principal who is mandated to be the executive organ of both, are competent in this respect.

PTI