Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the St. Stepehn's convocation.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today attended the convocation of St Stephen's College as the chief guest even though students had been campaigning to get him to boycott the graduation ceremony due to the controversy over the suspension of a student.
Mr Kejriwal later addressed the convocation where he urged the students to participate in democracy. "Even if you go into the world and have families to feed, do not forget Democracy. People have to participate in democracy," he said.
On a lighter note, the chief minister also said that people should not take their careers seriously. "Life is a one time chance, enjoy it," he said.
Devansh Mehta, editor and co-founder of 'St Stephen's Weekly' e-zine, who was barred by the college from attending classes for launching an online magazine had urged Mr Kejriwal not to attend the convocation.
"I request Kejriwal to boycott the convocation in St Stephen's college," the third year student had said. Mr Mehta was stripped off a good conduct award which he was to receive today from Mr Kejriwal.
Mr Mehta's suspension was stayed by the Delhi High Court yesterday after he challenged the ban on the magazine and accused principal Valson Thampu of putting "fetters on the fundamental right to free expression".
In its order, the court said the relief was provided since the student pleaded that the suspension could irreversibly impact his career in Columbia School of Journalism in the US, where he has been accepted. The Columbia University, he had said, might cancel his admission.
The court, however, did not ask the college to restore the good conduct award that Mr Mehta was to receive from Mr Kejriwal today. The next hearing in the case will be held on May 21.
Mr Mehta had been suspended till April 23 for "breach of discipline" over an interview of the principal last month. Mr Thampu had said the piece - which registered over 2,000 hits - had not been cleared by him for publication. The e-zine was also banned.
A third year student of philosophy, Mr Mehta called the ban "arbitrary, illegal, malafide and shockingly unreasonable" in his petition.