Delhi University urges UGC to look into reappointment of John Varghese as St.Stephen's college principal

In a letter to the secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the DU assistant registrar noted that the varsity is "constrained" from recognising Varghese as principal of the college ever since his five-year term ended last year in February.

Delhi University has now urged the University Grants Commission to look into the matter related to the appointment of professor John Varghese as the Principal of St.Stephen's College, alleging that his extension is ultra vires of the provisions of the commission's act.  In a letter to the secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the DU assistant registrar noted that the varsity is "constrained" from recognising Varghese as principal of the college ever since his five-year term ended last year in February.

"The intervention of the UGC is very kindly solicited to preclude any act of defilement of UGC regulations by St. Stephen's College and other colleges as well," the letter read, as reported by Mint.

On March 1, 2016, he was appointed as the principal of St. Stephen College for five years. The supreme council of the college had recently approved the extension.

For several months now, the university and Varghese have been fighting over the admission policy.  In the letter, the DU said "the college has been repeatedly justifying the reappointment of Varghese by citing the resolutions of its Supreme Council. However, in the UGC regulations, there is no provision for such a council."

"It may be noted that the UGC Regulations, 2018 does not provide any exception to any category of educational institutions from complying with the norm for reappointment of principal or have a different provision for reappointment of principal, after completing the first term through any body," the university said.

"Accordingly, such act of reappointment/extension of the term of Varghese by the so-called Supreme Council of the college is ultra vires of the provisions of the act, statutes and ordinances of the University/UGC regulations referred above," it added.

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