Suspended St Stephen's student e-zine editor moves court against college

New Delhi, April 16: The suspended editor of a student e-zine banned by St Stephen's Principal Valson Thampu today moved court seeking a stay on the action against him taken by the college on disciplinary grounds.

In a writ petition filed before Delhi High Court, Devansh Mehta sought "quashing of the order banning/suspending publication of the St Stephen's Weekly, stay on the suspension order and restraining the principal from taking any further action against him".

Mehta, a third-year Philosophy student and editor of the banned e-zine, was yesterday suspended till April 23 after a one-man inquiry committee appointed by the principal found him guilty of violating disciplinary norms of the college.

"After the one-man inquiry committee (led by Prof. SR Ayde) found the student concerned guilty of a serious breach, I discussed the matter with Ayde on the appropriate course of action. He suggested that a lenient view be taken and the matter be closed provided the person concerned is willing to express his regret and tender an apology," Thampu told PTI.

"I requested Ayde, on the grounds that he is the senior tutor, to counsel the student concerned. His patient efforts failed and the student persisted with the posture of defiance," he added.

Mehta was to be awarded the Rai Saheb Banarsi Das Memorial Prize

Mehta has also requested in his petition that he be awarded the Rai Saheb Banarsi Das Memorial Prize, for which he was earlier selected by the college faculty before being later dropped from the list in the wake of the controversy.

He was to have received the prize from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who will be the Chief Guest at the college's graduation ceremony on April 18. As per the suspension order, Mehta will not be able to attend the graduation ceremony now.

"The person whose name the prize commemorates did care for 'behaviour', as the college too does. Recommending a student who has been indicted for undisciplined behaviour is an insult to the dead person as it is to the living college," Thampu said.

PTI