Staff of St. Stephens' to Resign from Voluntary Administrative Positions | ST.STEPHEN'S COLLEGE STAFF ASSOCIATION

The Staff Association of St. Stephen's College held an emergency meeting on 1.3.2017 at 1.15 pm in the Staff Room and unanimously passed the following resolution:

1. The Staff Association of St. Stephen's College strongly condemned the threats meted out  by the Principal, Prof John Varghese, to two teacher representatives on the Governing Body after its meeting held on 25.2.2017 purportedly for giving their dissent on the issue of autonomous status for the college. It demands an immediate public and written apology from the Principal to the two teachers and an assurance that such intimidation will not be repeated.

2. The Staff Association notes with dismay that a petition signed by more than 500 students and 30 teachers submitted to the Governing Body before the above-mentioned meeting, appealing to it to defer the decision to move an application for autonomous status until consultation and consensus is obtained, was disregarded.   It demands that the Governing Body takes back the decision to apply for autonomous status  taken in a secretive and hurried manner without  application of mind or consultation with stake-holders. It re-iterates that no such decision on a matter that could change the very character of college as a premier public-funded institution,  providing high quality affordable education to diverse  sections of society,  can be taken without in-depth consultation and consensus within the college community of students, teachers and non-teaching employees.

3. The members of the Staff Association will register their protest in the above matters by resigning from all voluntary administrative positions as Staff Advisers of Students ' Societies and Members/Conveners of Committees.

4. A requisition signed by 45 out of about 50 permanent teachers (who are not on leave) for convening of an emergent  Staff Council meeting  "to discuss the role , functions and rights of teachers in view of some developments affecting the teaching -learning environment at the College" has been submitted to the Principal today.

Nandita Narain

(President, Staff Association,

St. Stephens's College)