First female principal of St Stephen's college takes charge despite DU objections
Press Trust of India | June 1, 2026 | 11:37 AM IST | 1 min read
Susan Elias, the 14th principal of St. Stephen's College, was appointed weeks after Delhi University wrote to the college asking it not to proceed with the appointment, claiming violation of UGC norms.
NEW DELHI: Despite objections from the Delhi University (DU), St Stephen's College has proceeded with the appointment of its 14th principal, with Susan Elias taking charge as the principal of the college on Monday, according to sources.
Elias's appointment was announced in a notification on May 12, after which DU wrote to the college , asking it not to proceed with the appointment, claiming violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations.
The university also wrote to the UGC seeking intervention. An official on the condition of anonymity said, "The former principal, John Varghese , wrote a kind of parting email to everyone on Sunday. There is no confirmation yet on whether he will stay in the college as faculty or not."
In the latest dispute, the college also wrote to the college, objecting to proposals of absorbing Varghese as a faculty of the English department. Meanwhile, the official added, "Whenever a principal takes charge, there is a sort of ceremony. However, as of now, we are not aware of any such formal gathering."
Elias is the first woman principal of the college in its 145-year history, since its founding in 1881.
Follow us for the latest education news on colleges and universities, admission, courses, exams, research, education policies, study abroad and more..
To get in touch, write to us at news@careers360.com.
Quick Watch
]Next Story
]Featured News
]- ‘Not fashion design’: JK Lakshmipat University focuses on design as tool to solve problems, says director
- Three years on, BUHS has left 2 lakh paramedical students with no exams or results and a bleak future
- NEET Exam: Why more women qualify, top the lists, but still can't make it to AIIMS
- Anna University students piece together BTech courses as faculty gaps lead to fragmented teaching
- NCERT teaching shame, not respect; blurring of Mohenjo-daro ‘Dancing Girl’ in book draws criticism
- NTA must publish ‘implementation roadmap’ for reforms recommended by HLCE: Parliament panel
- ‘Major financial project’: Tamil Nadu parents say private school fee disclosure rule will help plan education
- From farm work at 10 to Padma Shri at 70: Mahendra Nath Roy’s journey to become world’s top 2% scientist
- Across universities, 4th year of NEP’s FYUP more about confusion than research or practical training
- IITs will test new JEE Advanced format on first-year BTech students this year: IIT Kanpur director