DU-tells-St-Stephens-to-halt-principals-appointment

The University of Delhi has asked St Stephen’s College not to proceed with the appointment of its newly named principal. The university wrote to the college’s Governing Body on Thursday to state that the selection committee constituted for the appointment was not formed in accordance with UGC Regulations 2018, and that the recommendations of such a committee cannot be acted upon.

The letter, bearing reference number CB-II/Apptt.Principal/SSC/2026/835 and dated May 14, 2026, was addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Body of St Stephen’s College and signed by the University Registrar. It was issued with the approval of the Competent Authority.

The Registrar’s letter states clearly, “It appears that the Selection Committee for the appointment of a new principal in the college has not been constituted in accordance with the provisions of UGC Regulations 2018.”

It further states, “Accordingly, the recommendations of such a committee cannot be implemented.” The university has asked the college to convene a fresh meeting of a properly constituted Selection Committee as per the provisions of UGC Regulations 2018 before proceeding further.

Under UGC Regulations 2018, the Selection Committee for the post of college principal must include, among others, two nominees of the Vice-Chancellor who are Higher Education experts, three Higher Education experts nominated by the Governing Body from a panel of six experts approved by the university’s relevant statutory body, and an academician representing SC/ST/OBC/Minority /Women/Differently-abled categories if any candidate from those categories is an applicant.

The Registrar’s letter notes specifically that the university was never approached for the nomination of experts as required under these provisions. For minority educational institutions such as St Stephen’s College, the regulations carry additional specific requirements regarding the composition of the panel from which subject experts are nominated, including a preference for persons from minority communities recommended by the Vice-Chancellor.

The development comes just days after St Stephen’s College announced Professor Susan Elias as its 14th principal and the first woman to head the institution in its more than 145-year history.