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St Stephen's run like a communal body: Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: Using unusually strong language against his alma mater, East Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit on Thursday said St Stephen's, Delhi's best known college, was in recent times being run like a "communal institution". Dikshit was replying to a TOI query on his removal from the governing body of the college because he had neither accepted the invitation to join the body nor attended any meetings. "True, I studied there. But I don't want to be associated with the college now as it has no relevance in today's world. It is in a sad state and being run like a communal institution," said the MP, who is chief minister Sheila Dikshit's son. The governing body (GB), in its meeting on May 24, had decided to remove Dikshit as a member. He had been appointed as the alumni representative to the body on October 28, 2009. GB members said the matter was not on agenda, but college principal Valson Thampu brought it up and proposed the name of Justice Sanjay Krishan Kaul of Delhi HC as alumni representative. A senior GB member objected, saying there conflict of interest in the appointment as a case against Thampu is in the high court. Opposing the move, a governing body member said, "there was a case pending against (principal) Thampu in the high court and therefore Kaul's nomination was not proper." The case relates to Thampu's PhD in theology from Allahabad Agricultural University, which was challenged by former college vice-principal M S Frank. The PhD was a qualifying criterion in Thampu's appointment as principal. "The GB withdrew the nomination as he had neither accepted the invitation nor indicated his willingness to serve in the capacity for more than one-and-a-half years. So the GB decided to invite Justice Sanjay Krishan Kaul as he is also a noted alumnus of the college. I would like to emphasize that this in no way takes away our respect or affection for Dikshit," said Thampu. Questioning the move, another GB member told TOI, "Why is the decision being taken after one-and-a-half years while Dikshit's name was there in all the meetings during this period?"

                                                                                                               
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