The new draft proposal to change the constitution of St. Stephen’s College is likely to make the college a more distant dream for students of the General category, believe professors and alumni of the institution. Currently there are 50 percent seats reserved for Christians in St. Stephen's College.
The draft proposed by Principal Valson Thampu will give a major authority to the Church of North India in the functioning of the college.
Currently St. Stephen’s has a Supreme Council which consists of six members including five members of the Church of North India and the Principal. Another is the Governing Body consisting of college professors which is responsible for managing the routine affairs of college. As per the new proposal, the Supreme Council will have all the power over student admissions and faculty appointments.
“If more power is given to the Supreme Council, it is possible that the council might increase the Christian quota which is currently at 50 percent. Before 2008, the Christian quota was lesser and the college was more accessible to non-Christian students,” said lawyer and St. Stephen's alumni Sunil Mathew.
Some professors also called the proposal an attempt at “Christianisation” of the institute, which Principal Valson Thampu denied and said that whatever he is doing is well within the framework of law.
Speaking to The Hindu about the draft, he said: “There were many short-comings in the constitution of St. Stephen's which is why the draft of constitution has been proposed. A minority institution well within its limits has all the right to run institution according their own rules.”
Quoting from the Supreme Court judgement of St. Stephen's College Vs Delhi University in 1992, Mr. Thampu said: “The Supreme Court observed that the minorities whether based on religion or language have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The administration of educational institutions of their choice under Article 30(1) means 'management of the affairs of the institutions.”
“The draft was supposed to be placed before the Governing Body on November 23, but it has been postponed,” a senior college official said.
