Date:30/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/30/stories/2007113064210300.htm

New Delhi

‘Petition not maintainable’

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: In response to a recent letter by Delhi University seeking an explanation from St. Stephen’s College to a notice issued by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions on a petition alleging three illegal appointments, the Supreme Council of the institution on Thursday said the petition was “not maintainable”.

The Commission had issued notices to the University, Chairman of the Governing Body and Supreme Council of St. Stephen’s College and the University Grants Commission last month on the petition filed by one Sheetal Singh claiming that the appointments of college Principal Valson Thampu, Vice-Principal M.S. Frank and Bursar N. Raghunathan were illegal.

College response

“The chairman of the Supreme Council received a letter from Dean of Colleges Nayanjyot Lahiri seeking clarifications from the College to help it formulate a response to the notice served on it by the NCMEI,” said St. Stephen’s media adviser Vinod Chowdhury on Thursday.

“In his response, the Chairman of the Governing Body and Supreme Council of St. Stephen’s College, Bishop Sunil Kumar Singh, has taken a position that in the opinion of the Supreme Council the petition was not maintainable under the Act governing the Commission,” he added.