Several teachers and a few students of St Stephen's College staged a dharna from 12.30 pm to 2 pm, to protest against the management's announcement that a member of the parent council would oversee the admission process. Academics who had spoken out against this move, received notices of warning from the management. Protesting the warning letter, the college's students and teachers had conducted a dharna on Friday, in front of the college gate. "The dharna went very well," says Nandita Narain, a faculty member, adding, "Some teachers are trying to talk to him (principal) tomorrow."
The latest notice by the St Stephen's College Chairman on the Supreme Council issue has given a new turn to the ongoing events in the college. Issued by Rt Rev Warris K Masih, it says that the admission process to the college will be overseen by a member of the Governing Body nominated by the Supreme Council. Previously, there were reports saying that a member of the Supreme Council will be present in the admission panel, which had created a lot of hue and cry among the student and teaching committee.
The new notice has, in fact, put the teachers in a state of confusion. "There are different versions put out by the principal and the chairman. There is something on the website, which is different from what was discussed in the principal's meeting with the heads of departments yesterday. There is nothing in writing to indicate that the Supreme Council member will be sitting in the interview panel. Nothing is clear," says Narain.
Three teachers, including Narain, were previously issued warnings by the principal, for condemning the decision of including the Supreme Council member in the admission panel. The college had also issued a warning on May 16, banning any sort of protest or media presence in the college.
