St Stephen's molestation row:DU says college's internal matter

Amid a demand for St Stephen's principal Valson Thampu's resignation over the molestation row, Delhi University today said it is the college's internal matter and the varsity has no say in it.
While the Delhi University's Students Union (DUSU) today staged a protest demanding Thampu's resignation, the varsity's Executive Council members also wrote to college authorities that the principal be asked to proceed on leave pending an enquiry against him.
"St Stephen's college is a minority institution run by the Church of North India. It is an internal matter of the college which has to be dealt by them in accordance with the act of Parliament on sexual harassment.

"DU has no say in the matter and the college's Governing Body (GB) is the supreme administrative body to take any action in this regard," a senior varsity official said.
The HRD ministry also refused to intervene in the matter saying such issues are to be handled by the institution's Internal Complaints Committee as per Supreme Court guidelines.
A research scholar at St Stephen's had approached police on June 19 alleging that she was molested by Satish Kumar, a professor in the college's Chemistry department.

The complainant has also accused Stephen's principal Valson Thampu of shielding the accused and "criminally intimidating" her to close the matter in the college itself in order to not cause any delay or problems in the completion of her Ph.D.

The complainant yesterday also made public a set of recordings that she claimed were conversations between herself, the accused and the principal.
Meanwhile, Delhi High Court today sought a reply from police on a plea by Kumar seeking anticipatory bail in the case and ordered a stay on his arrest till August 17.