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
]- Boomerang effect? Jadavpur bookstalls report fourfold rise in sales after Durga Puja attack sparks resistance
- Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling: HC refuses to let medical college hold own MBBS rounds, says plea ‘premature’
- NEET PG Counselling: At private medical colleges, deemed-university tag brings up to 1,471% fee hike
- ‘Didn't call police,’ IIT Bombay deputy director tells faculty members; prof questions response
- AI engineer builds app for blind students in higher education; over 1,000 use it to read in 30 languages
- ‘Teachers know…’: In Chennai govt schools, drugs move through classrooms, playgrounds – unchecked, unreported
- St Stephen’s terminates 2 assistant professors appointed during ex-principal’s tenure over irregularities
- NIT Karnataka’s entrepreneurship model goes beyond incubators and into classrooms; now it’ll guide other NITs
- Defunding Liberal Arts: When sociology and history learning fades, social media influencers fill the gap
- Section of JBIMS grads without jobs, say placement team ‘not taking responsibility’; B-school blames students