New Delhi: A group of former students of St. Stephen’s College in Delhi on Tuesday alleged that the college has “intentionally hired undeserving” Christian teachers in various departments on permanent positions under the general category.
The Association of Old Stephanians has sought the intervention of well known college alumni, including Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Chief Election Commissioner S. Y. Quraishi, former Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manomohan Sarin and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoo to raise the issue.
“Seven out of the eight teachers appointed during the month of March were Christians. The Stephanians are aghast with the way the principal has used the canard of minority rights and protection of interests of Christians by deliberately selecting undeserving teachers just because they belong to a certain minority community,” the association said in a statement.
The association, which is not recognized by the college, claimed that two appointments in English department, two in physics, one in chemistry, one in history, and two in economics have been made during last few weeks, indiatoday.india.today.in reported.
“All except one in Economic department are Christians,” said statement which has also been marked to the chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions; general secretary, Synod, Church of North India and secretary, Diocese of Delhi.
The association said it wants intervention of the college governing body and demanded setting up of an independent inquiry in the allegations.
“We demand that Supreme Council and governing body of the St. Stephen’s College set up an independent inquiry. All decisions taken by principal (Valson Thampu) after he became principal, be reviewed through an independent inquiry,” it said.
India Today claimed Reverend was not available despite several attempts to contact him.
St Stephen’s College, a coeducational educational institution, is managed by the Protestant Church of North India and functions as constituent college of the University of Delhi. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University.
The college has produced a long line of distinguished alumni, including several Members of Parliaments, and the Presidents of three countries. Students and alumni of the college are termed Stephanians.
Nation-wide surveys such as those by India Today and The Week have consistently described the college as among the best colleges in India for both arts and sciences.
The college was founded on in 1881 by the members of the Cambridge Mission to Delhi, an Anglican mission organized from the alumni of Cambridge University. It was initially affiliated to the University of Calcutta. In 1882, it was affiliated to University of the Punjab, Lahore. It later became one of three original constituent colleges of the University of Delhi when that institution was founded in 1922.