The suspended editor of a student e-zine banned by St Stephen's Principal Valson Thampu today moved court seeking a stay on the action even as a section of students requested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal not to be the chief guest at the college's graduation day function.
In a writ petition filed before Delhi High Court, Devansh Mehta sought "quashing of the order banning/suspending publication of the St Stephen's Weekly, stay on the suspension order and restraining the principal from taking any further action against him".
Mehta, a third-year Philosophy student, was yesterday suspended till April 23 after a one-man inquiry committee appointed by the principal found him guilty of violating disciplinary norms of the college.
The students of the college and alumni have come out in his support and have sent a petition to Kejriwal urging him to turn down the invitation for the graduation ceremony on April 18, where he is supposed to be the chief guest.
Mehta was supposed to receive an award from the Chief Minister at the ceremony but his name was later dropped from the list in the wake of the controversy.
"The way our college authorities have dealt with such cases displays a clear curtailment of our freedom of speech. We are not contesting the fact that college authorities do have a say in shaping the ultimate decision taken on a particular issue. What we want is a space for dialogue wherein we have an equal say that is duly considered.
"We request you again, to refuse the invitation to attend the Convocation ceremony at St Stephen's College to help us assert our stance against an oppressive administrative system," the petition says.
In his petition before the high court, Mehta also requested that he be awarded the Rai Saheb Banarsi Das Memorial Prize.
According to the suspension order, Mehta will not be able to attend the graduation ceremony now.
However, Thampu has defended the college's action saying those found guilty for misconduct and breach of college discipline are bound to face action and cannot be awarded.
"The person whose name the prize commemorates did care for 'behaviour', as the college too does. Recommending a student who has been indicted for undisciplined behaviour is an insult to the dead person as it is to the college," Thampu told PTI.
"After the one-man inquiry committee (led by Prof. S R Ayde) found the student concerned guilty of a serious breach, I discussed the matter with Ayde on the appropriate course of action. He suggested that a lenient view be taken and the matter be closed provided the person concerned is willing to express his regret and tender an apology," he said.
