Student Devansh Mehta Wins Over Valson Thampu in Suspension Case

Devansh Mehta’s work recently got published in the Columbia Journalism Review.

St. Stephen’s College student Devansh Mehta had been battling former college principal Reverend Valson Thampu. (Photo: The Quint)

The St Stephen’s college’s former Principal, Valson Thampu, lost a legal battle with a student he had suspended, Devansh Mehta, on Friday. Thampu had suspended Mehta for speaking with the media after the college’s weekly e-magazine was banned. Justice Manmohan was hearing the case at the Bombay High Court.

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The HC also withdrew the enquiry report by faculty member Dr SR Ayde against Mehta who – at the time of filing of the case – was a third year Philosophy (Hons) student of St Stephen’s College.

The e-magazine was started by three other students along with Mehta who has been accepted at the Columbia University for a course in journalism.

Mehta hopes this development would serve an inspiration to students all over the country to stand up against malafide and vindictive actions by college authorities, according to Advocate Sunil Mathew, who was following the case.

Although Thampu continues to justify his stance on the suspension, Mehta was elated after the HC order.

John Varghese replaced Valson Thampu as the Principal of the college on 1 March.

Also Read:
Valson Thampu: The St Stephens Principal Who Courted Controversy
Bye Bye Thampu: Will the New St Stephen’s Principal be Luckier?