Stephen's teacher Narain in row again

University plans to 'derecognise' her

Delhi University Teachers’ Association president and St Stephen’s College teacher, Nandita Narain, is caught in a row with her college telling the varsity authority that it is upon them to initiate disciplinary action against her.

Narain, who teaches Mathematics at St Stephen’s College, said it is fallout a “conspiracy” being planned against her by DU Vice Chancellor and her college principal.

The varsity had earlier written to St Stephen’s highlighting the complaints against Narain. The college on Monday responded to the communication saying that the onus to initiate action lies with the VC.

Some sources said the varsity is planning to “derecognise” her as a teacher.
The DU’s Executive Council may take such a step but only “on reference from the VC”, as per the university norms.

Narain was at the forefront of the agitation against the now-scrapped four-year undergraduate programme.

Irregularities
The teachers’ body she represents had also issued a ‘white paper’ on alleged irregularities by the VC Dinesh Singh.

According to sources, the varsity had forwarded complaints from some DU-affiliated colleges and the School of Open Learning, which alleged that Narain tried to interfere in their functioning.

“The Governing Body (of St Stephen’s) decided to write to the Vice Chancellor regarding the matter as none of the complaints raised in the varsity’s communication pertain to St Stephen’s college,” St Stephen’s College principal Valson Thampu said.

“Hence, the university will be the competent authority to take any appropriate action against her,” the principal  Thampu said.

“I received a communication from the DU Registrar about certain complaints against Narain and the varsity had directed me to table the matter before the Governing Body,” Thampu said.

“I had placed all the documents before the members at yesterday’s meeting and the decision taken is the GB’s wisdom, not mine,” he added.

Narain rubbished charges against her.
“The university extracted these complaints from the colleges,” she said.