Allegedly, St. Stephen’s College has suspended approximately 100 first-year students for purportedly failing to attend the morning assembly, as claimed by a teacher on Tuesday. Additionally, the college has issued a warning of debarring students if they fail to contact their parents.
Both students and teachers have penned a letter to Principal John Varghese, urging him to retract the suspension order and rescind the threat of debarring them from upcoming examinations. However, there has been no immediate response from the administration.
On February 17, over 100 first-year students received an email notifying them of their suspension and potential debarment from the second-semester examination. This action stemmed from their alleged failure to schedule an appointment with the principal following a prior email on February 4, requesting the same due to inadequate attendance during the January 2024 morning assemblies.
The administration’s email stated, “Regrettably, due to non-compliance with this request, I inform you that the student will not be permitted to sit for the upcoming examinations as a consequence of suspension.”
A teacher, speaking anonymously to ANI, expressed concern over students missing classes due to the morning assembly attendance requirement. Many students approached the teacher, disclosing that they reside alone without any guardian nearby. Yet, they are being instructed to contact their parents, which is impractical given the short notice and logistical challenges.
In response to the principal’s communication, students collectively highlighted the impracticality of scheduling appointments since their parents reside outside Delhi-NCR. Associate Professor Sanjeev Grewal also voiced shock at the situation, emphasizing that attendance at the morning assembly should not serve as grounds for debarring students from exams. He underscored that the assembly, featuring religious practices, is specific to St. Stephen’s College and not sanctioned by the university.
Grewal urged the administration to retract the suspension order and withdraw the threat of debarring students based on morning assembly attendance. He advocated for voluntary attendance at the assembly in alignment with constitutional rights, stressing that disciplinary action should only be a last resort.
In essence, the collective plea from students and faculty emphasizes the need for reconsideration of punitive measures tied to morning assembly attendance at St. Stephen’s College.
