New Delhi: St Stephen’s College has appointed its outgoing principal, John Varghese, as a professor in its English department without convening a selection committee and despite the absence of a sanctioned vacancy, according to university and college officials. Varghese has been at the center of a legal dispute with Delhi University over his second-term extension.
Appointment in Violation of UGC Norms
As per University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, direct appointments to the post of professor are not permitted. Teachers are typically promoted through the ranks of assistant and associate professor over several years, based on eligibility and recommendations of duly constituted selection panels. However, in this case, no selection committee was formed.
Karen Gabriel, head of the English department, confirmed that no selection committee was constituted for Varghese’s appointment. The college website now lists him as a professor in the department, with his name removed from the list of former principals.
“As the department head, I had communicated my concern over the appointment to the management on various grounds, but the appointment was still made. There was no selection committee set up, which is against established norms. Firstly, Varghese was serving in an administrative role, which is fixed-term in nature. In case of faculty, this is not the case — appointments continue until retirement or resignation. A fixed administrative role cannot be converted into a faculty appointment. Secondly, a teacher cannot be directly appointed as professor; they need to move through different stages of academic experience before reaching that rank,” Gabriel told TOI.
Background of the Case
College officials further pointed out that Varghese’s appointment as principal was on a fixed-term basis — five years, extended once in 2021 — and upon completion of his tenure, he was required to return to his parent institution, the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad. However, he resigned from his post there after joining St Stephen’s, leaving no position to revert to. Varghese served as professor and head of the department of media and communication at EFLU before joining St Stephen’s in March 2016.
“In any case, direct absorption into a professorship is not permissible under rules,” an official said, adding that faculty positions are not tenured and cannot be converted from a fixed-term administrative role.
Delhi University’s Response
Delhi University registrar Vikas Gupta said that there is no sanctioned post of professor at the college at present and stated that the university will again write to the UGC to seek intervention.
“What can we do? They keep doing as they wish. First they extended the tenure, which we challenged and remains sub judice. Now there are other things they are doing in blatant violation of set norms. UGC is the funding body. They get direct funding from them. UGC should look into this and see what should be done if a constituent college is non-compliant with its norms,” Gupta told TOI.
He added that the university was not aware of the development and, if it is found to be in violation of norms, it will take action and write to the UGC, indicating that funding implications could also be examined.
TOI reached out to Varghese for comment, but he did not respond to calls and texts.
Ongoing Tussle Between DU and College
The move has added to the ongoing tussle between Delhi University and the college, a constituent institution with minority status, over compliance with university and UGC norms. Varghese’s second tenure as principal, which began in 2021, is already under challenge, with the university maintaining that it does not recognize his continuation in the role.
Earlier last week, DU had objected to St Stephen’s selection of a new principal, Susan Elias, alleging that the vice-chancellor’s nominee was not included in the selection panel in violation of UGC norms, and asked the college to halt the appointment. The new principal is slated to join on June 1.
The college has also gone ahead with hiring several assistant professors despite the university setting up a probe committee into alleged irregularities in the selection process, which has been challenged in court. Delhi High Court has currently stayed displacements in the matter and is slated to hear the case on October 5.
