The amendments in the 102-year-old constitution of St Stephen's college are "natural", "necessary" and in accordance with relevant provisions of law, principal Valson Thampu claimed today and alleged that a section of vested interests are spreading misconceptions about the move.
Thampu claimed that the recent Governing Body meeting in which the amendments were approved had full quorum as he slammed teachers for questioning the quorum after deliberately and publicly "boycotting" the GB meeting.
He also clarified that the concerns about the college losing its affiliation from Delhi University and ultimately the funding from the University Grants Commission (UGC), are part of a "false propaganda".
"The society of St Stephen's College is amending its Constitution which is a natural, necessary and in accordance with all relevant provisions of law. The amendments have been necessitated due to changes in law, the enormous transformation in education and the need to reach out to those in need," he said in a press statement.
"The Governing Body (GB) meeting on November 30 met quorum requirements. The rumour spread that 8 members boycotted the meeting is false and malicious. The GB currently comprises 15 members. Of the 15, 10 members attended, which is two-thirds. It does not have to be emphasized that non-members cannot boycott meetings!," he added.
Thampu said that while Delhi University provides for only two teacher representatives by rotation based on seniority, the college had provided for two additional elected teacher representatives.
He alleged that when college notified for these two positions for elected teacher representatives not even a single teacher filed nomination.
"The proposed amendments are meant to bring it in harmony
with applicable laws including the statutes of DU. This exposes the false propaganda that the college will lose its affiliation if its constitution is amended. This malicious campaign is aimed at spreading panic among the teaching community, students, their parents and the alumni.
"It is baseless to insinuate that the UGC will stop grant-in-aid if the College constitution is amended. There is no UGC rule that disallows any institution from amending its constitution," he said.
Thampu, who is retiring in February next year, had come up with a draft amendment in which he had proposed that the principal be empowered to take disciplinary action against students or staff irrespective of the GB's opinion.
He also called for giving a major say to the Church of North India (CNI) in the functioning of the college, handing over the powers to appoint faculty and admissions to its Supreme Council (SC) and recasting the GB.
The amendment also proposed to replace St Stephen's College Trust, which currently runs the college, with a St Stephen's Educational Society that will have the power to establish Stephen's-like private institutions across the country.
While St Stephen's faculty as well as the staff association have rejected outrightly the proposed amendments and urged the GB to delay the process till the time Thampu has retired, the members of CNI have come out in support, contending the amendments will benefit students and the institution.
The move to amend the constitution has also attracted the ire of the college alumni who have termed it as an attempt to make St Stephen's a "Christian ghetto".
Teachers, had claimed that the amendments were approved in a GB Meeting last week which was short of quorum. The final call will be taken in a GB meeting scheduled three months later.
Meanwhile, Thampu had called a meeting of the St Stephen's society today to discuss the approved amendments with the members.
