The students’ union, teachers and staff members of Delhi University’s prestigious St Stephen’s college staged a protest over the institution’s decision to include the church as a member of the institution’s Supreme Council in a panel to select students. The Supreme Council is a subset of six members of the Governing Body (Managing Committee) and comprises all members of the Church of North India.

The protesters were tying black bands on their arms and mouths demanding perseverance of academic integrity. The student union of the St Stephens also wrote a open letter to the college principal John Varghese citing lack of communication opportunities with him.

“We want that the warning letters to teacher representatives, who objected to the interference of church, be withdrawn and the academic integrity of the teachers be upheld,” said Nandita Narain, one of the three members of the governing body who condemned the institution’s decision.

Witnessing the continuous protest by the students and teachers, the college administration issued a warning letter to some its staffs who were leading the protest and also issued a notice signed by Principal Varghese which read, “There should be no disturbance of working environment in the college and those doing that will be dealt with in the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.”

The notice further stated, “Examinations are being conducted at present in the institution and any form of disruption to the exams will be dealt with strictly.”

 “We have always asked for a proper communication channel between the administration and the students. The students are having lots of concerns about the recent outcry in the college. As an elected body, we feel it is our duty to seek clarification from you so that everyone has a clear idea about what is happening and peaceful atmosphere can be restored in college,” the open letter by students union read.

According to the college constitution, the Supreme Council of the college shall have the control of the religious and moral instruction of students of the college and of all matters affecting its religious character as a Christian college of the Church of North India.

Some members of the college’ governing body such as Narain, N P Ashley and Abhishek Singh called the decision “illegal and un-academic decision taken by the Principal that could compromise the academic integrity of our admissions process.”

The three members were also issued warning letters by the college administration.