The Delhi High Court will hear on July 1 a petition against an order of the Supreme Council to have a member of Christian theologist to be inducted in the panel conducting the interview of the students for admission to the prestigious St Stephens College, Delhi.

The plea was filed by three faculty members of the College against the order of Supreme Council that have supported the appointment of non-academic persons from the Church in the interview panel for students’ admissions earlier this year. The petitioner’s counsel moved an interim application seeking the stay of the circular asking the christian member to be included in the list of panel of members conducting the interview. The Petitioners contended that including a christian member in the panel violates the very constitution of the institution.

The Respondents held that the institution has clause 11 which gives and bind the recommendation of the Supreme Council on Governing Body who further recommend the member of panel to conduct the Interview.

The judge while refusing to allow the interim application consider the urgency and prepone the regular matter in July 1st.

The announcement to appoint a member nominated by the St Stephen’s supreme council to be a part of the interview panel for Christian students led to a protest by the teachers. The case was filed by three faculty on June 1 and the hearing was ordered to be done on June 12.

Only two days back,  the car of one of the petitioners was vandalized by unidentified persons inside the campus in Delhi. The incident occurred when the vehicle was parked outside the petitioners residence within the college campus.

Last month, the teachers had called for a ‘dharna’ at the college after Principal’s statement to include Supreme Council in the admission process.

-India Legal Bureau