Devansh Mehta, the suspended student of Delhi’s prestigious St. Stephen’s College has moved court seeking a stay on the action against him.
Mehta, who was student editor of St. Stephen’s Weekly, a digital magazine, was suspended by St Stephen’s Principal Valson Thampu after a one-man inquiry committee found him guilty of violating disciplinary norms of the college.
In a writ petition filed before the Delhi High Court, he sought the ‘quashing of the order banning/suspending publication of the St Stephen’s Weekly, stay on the suspension order and restraining the principal from taking any further action against him.’
He also requested the court that he be awarded the Rai Saheb Banarsi Das Memorial Prize, for which he was earlier selected by the college faculty. The award was taken away from him in the wake of the controversy.
St. Stephen’s Principal Valson Thampu banned the magazine after it published his interview, saying that the students had not cleared it with him.
After the one-man inquiry committee (led by Prof. SR Ayde) found the student concerned guilty of a serious breach. The student persisted with his posture of defiance. Recommending a student who has been indicted for undisciplined behaviour is an insult to the dead person as it is to the living college.
— Valson Thampu, Principal, St Stephen’s College
The college’s actions brought about a backlash on social media.
Mehta apart, three other students were part of the e-zine. However, the trio apologised to Principal Thampu. It is learnt that they were against Mehta’s decision to report the matter to the media.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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