St Stephen's Constitution Amendment 'Mockery' of DU Rules, Allege Teachers

New Delhi: The controversy over amendments to the 102-year-old constitution of St Stephen's college has escalated further with Delhi University teachers seeking intervention of the Vice Chancellor, alleging the institution is making a "mockery" of DU statutes and demanding that the varsity take action.

Members of the Executive Council (EC), the university's decision making body, have written to acting Vice Chancellor Sudhish Pachauri, saying if the university does not object to the move by St Stephen's, other colleges will also follow in the footsteps.

"As per DU statutes, a constituent college has to follow the rules and regulations of the university which may be managed by a trust and, in case of of a major deviation, a suitable action can be initiated against the college.

"If today this college is allowed to effect such changes, tomorrow other constituent colleges of the university maintained by different trusts may follow the same, making a mockery of the DU system which should not be allowed," the letter said.

Seeking a stay on the decision, the teachers further said, "We expect a timely intervention in this regard by the university asking the college to stay the passing of proposed changes unless DU examines the proposal and satisfies itself that proposed changes are not against the varsity calendar."

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St Stephen's had approved certain amendments in the college's constitution at a meeting of the Governing Body (GB) last week despite eight out of eighteen members abstaining.

University authorities, however, maintained that though the step can lead to Stephen's derecognition by DU and subsequent withdrawal of funding by the University Grants Commission (UGC), they will take note of the issue only after a communication has been received from the college about what the amendments are.

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