File photo of St Stephen's principal Valson Thampu
As St Stephen's fire-fights after allegations of sexual harassment against one of its senior professors, principal Valson Thampu has invoked Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ while saying: "There were allegations against every reformer."
Reverend Thampu has been accused of trying to protect Professor Satish Kumar, who has been accused by a researcher of harassing her for two years while she was working on her doctorate thesis.
The central government has asked the college for a report on the allegations.
Responding to questions, Valson Thampu said: "There were allegations against Mahatma Gandhi, Christ and every other reformer. Anyone who stands against the existing trends comes in controversy."
He clarified that he was not defending the accused professor. "I am not justifying anyone; if the guilt is proven he should be given toughest punishment. Let the victim make allegations. I have done my best to secure the interest of the victim."
The college, he added, "works smoothly like silk," and claimed that there was no controversy.
Satish Kumar quit an important faculty post on Tuesday after a court refused to grant him protection from arrest. Reverend Thampu, however, said he would continue as assistant professor.
A woman who was pursuing a post-doctoral thesis in chemistry, has alleged in a seven-page complaint that the Mr Kumar sexually assaulted her in October, 2013 but she never pressed charges fearing for her career. The student has told the police that she approached the principal last December, but instead of helping her, he asked her to withdraw her complaint.