One-member panel to probe case of Stephen's admin officer

A one-member inquiry committee has been constituted to look into the matter involving a St Stephen's college administrative officer who was suspended last month by its governing body for alleged misconduct.
"The Governing Body (GB) decided in its meeting today that the one-member committee of retired sessions judge Dinesh Dayal will probe the issue. Deepak Mukherjee, member of GB, will act as presenting officer to facilitate the probe," sources said.
Subhash Kumar Dash was first suspended by St Stephen's Principal Valson Thampu for engaging in "gross misconduct" and sending derogatory and defamatory SMSes to the administration and to the college community under the influence of alcohol.

But after Dash moved Delhi High Court challenging the first order and accusing Thampu of trying to convert him to Christianity, the St Stephen's principal had revoked the suspension, following which the court had dismissed the plea.
However, the GB later decided to again suspend Dash and sought from him a written explanation on the allegations raised against him. Dash was asked to respond to the charges against him by January 14.
Dash, in the meantime, had written to the GB chairman seeking answers to 23 questions regarding the functioning of the college, in order to justify his response.
"No such explanation has been given to Dash," the sources said, adding that "the committee will probe the matter and take all issues into consideration".

No time-frame has been decided yet for the committee to submit its report, they said.