Marking a historic milestone, Susan Elias on Monday assumed charge as principal of St Stephen’s College, becoming the first woman to head the institution in its 145-year history since its establishment in 1881.
College officials confirmed that Elias formally joined as principal, ending months of uncertainty surrounding the appointment. Her assumption of office comes despite objections raised by the University of Delhi over the appointment process.
The appointment has been at the centre of a prolonged dispute between the college administration and the university. Delhi University (DU) had questioned the selection procedure, maintaining that certain statutory norms and regulations governing appointments in affiliated colleges had not been followed.
Reacting to the development, Delhi University Registrar Vikas Gupta said the university had repeatedly communicated its concerns to the college but had received no response.
“The college cannot be allowed to flout regulations in the name of minority status. We have repeatedly written to the institution, but none of our letters have received a response. The rules apply equally to all. We have taken up the matter with the UGC and will see what action it decides to take,” Gupta said.
St Stephen’s, one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious colleges, enjoys minority institution status and has maintained that it has the right to make appointments in accordance with its governing provisions. The issue has sparked a wider debate over the balance between minority rights and regulatory oversight in higher education institutions.
With Elias now taking charge, attention is likely to shift to the response of the university and the University Grants Commission (UGC), which has been approached by Delhi University regarding the matter. Her appointment marks a significant moment in the college’s history, breaking a nearly century and a half tradition of male leadership at the institution.
