Delhi High Court Halts St. Stephen’s College Recruitment Amid Irregularities
Recruitment Process Stopped
The recruitment process at St. Stephen’s College has been suspended by the Delhi High Court due to identified irregularities in the hiring of 25 assistant professors. These appointments were made in May 2026, during the final days of the previous principal's tenure.
Controversy Surrounding Appointments
The situation regarding the assistant professors' recruitment at St. Stephen’s College, part of the University of Delhi, has escalated significantly. The Delhi High Court's decision to halt the recruitment process follows the discovery of serious irregularities in the hiring of 25 assistant professors, which occurred in May 2026, towards the end of former principal John Varghese’s administration. In response to an internal investigation, the college has dismissed two assistant professors from the Hindi and Chemistry departments. A committee formed by the University’s Executive Council, led by Professor Indra Mohan Kapahi, found that the college had breached established recruitment protocols to favor certain candidates.
Court's Intervention
Concerns regarding unfair practices in the faculty recruitment led ad-hoc faculty members to seek intervention from the Delhi High Court. During a hearing on May 13, 2026, the Court issued a stay on the recruitment process, highlighting that the case involves significant policy issues that necessitate a comprehensive investigation. The Court has mandated that the selection committee's recommendations cannot be acted upon without its approval. This stay will remain until the High Court reaches a final decision after further hearings and ongoing investigations.
Key Findings from the Committee's Report
Major revelations in the committee’s report
The five-member committee's report, chaired by Professor Indra Mohan Kapahi, uncovered multiple instances of misconduct by the St. Stephen’s College administration. It was revealed that the college unlawfully lowered the minimum academic score for the unreserved category from the required 55 to 50. According to Delhi University (DU) regulations, 40 candidates should have been invited for interviews for the first vacancy, with an additional 20 for each subsequent vacancy. However, the college invited over 70 candidates per position for interviews. Furthermore, points were awarded for publications in general peer-reviewed journals instead of those recognized by UGC-CARE or Scopus. A subject expert appointed by DU refused to sign the final score sheet, claiming that non-expert committee members were unfairly assigning scores to favored candidates. Additionally, despite a warning from the DU Registrar on April 29, 2026, against issuing appointment letters, the college announced results on May 9 and allowed candidates to join on May 11.
Consequences for Faculty Members
Two Assistant Professors Lose Their Positions
Following an internal inquiry led by the new Principal, Susan Elias, and a decision by the Governing Body on September 29, 2026, actions were taken against two faculty members. A Chemistry department teacher was asked to resign due to insufficient academic qualifications and eligibility; they later resigned but were subsequently hired as guest faculty. A similar issue was found with a faculty member from the Hindi department.
Institutional Positions
The College’s Argument and DU’s Stance
St. Stephen’s College argues that, as a minority institution, it has the right to establish its own selection processes and criteria. Conversely, Delhi University asserts that all colleges, regardless of their minority status, must comply with recruitment rules set by DU’s statutory bodies, UGC guidelines, and the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).