Old students hounding St Stephen's principal: Swami Agnivesh

Kept in the news by a succession of controversies, St Stephen's College principal Valson Thampu today found support from social activist Swami Agnivesh who testified to his "proven integrity" while slamming the "crude spectacle" of certain former students "hounding" him.
"I am appalled at the crude and barbaric spectacle of certain former students of the college hounding a man of proven integrity and stature like Thampu.
"This witch-hunt began, as I remember, in 2007 when he announced the admission policy, affirming social justice in higher education," Agnivesh said in a statement.
A group of St Stephen's alumni have alleged that Thampu's appointment was illegal after questioning his qualifications for the post. They have also charged that Thampu was responsible for "rampant misadministration" in the college.

The Old Stephanians Association, an alumni group which is not recognised by the college, had earlier this week released a white paper against Thampu in which it had sought the intervention of the prime minister and HRD ministry.
The alumni group has also alleged that the college is deliberately hiring only Christian teachers.

However, St Stephen's Supreme Council, its top decision- making body, has passed a resolution saying the "alumni have no right to interfere in internal matters or administration of the college".
Thampu recently came under fire for suspending a student e-zine in March for not seeking his clearance on its content before the edition's publication.

Declaring that he has worked with Thampu for over a decade and has known him to be a man of integrity, Agnivesh said, "It is silly that issues long since settled by the High Court -- like the validity of his degree or his meeting the eligibility requirements -- are being raised every now and then in order to prejudice the public against the principal.
"I call upon all concerned to stop this barbaric witch- hunt and to leave St Stephen's unharassed (sic) to pursue the great service it has been doing these many decades.