St Stephen's College Suspends Over 100 Students, May Be Debarred From Exam For Skipping Morning Assembly

St Stephen’s College of Delhi University suspended over 100 students of the college for not attending the morning assembly prayers, a teacher claimed on Tuesday. The college administration may also debar the students for the upcoming Delhi University exams if they do not call their parents.

The students and teachers of the college have written to Principal John Varghese, urging him to revoke the suspension order and the debarment threat, which they said violated the fundamental rights of students under the Constitution.

The college administration sent an email to the students on February 17, informing them of the suspension due to their failure to set up an appointment with the principal, who had asked them to do so on February 4 because of their low attendance in the morning assemblies in January 2024.

“Regrettably, due to non-compliance with this request, I inform you that the student will not be permitted to sit for the upcoming examinations as a consequence of suspension,” the administration’s mail read.

A teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that many students were living alone in Delhi and could not call their parents on such short notice. He also expressed concern over the students missing classes due to the suspension.

“Many of my students have come to me to tell me that they are living alone. They have no guardian here either. But they are still being asked to call their parents. Their parents cannot come on such short notice,” the teacher said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Associate Professor Sanjeev Grewal also wrote to the principal, expressing shock at the development and pointing out that the morning assembly was a convention specific to St Stephen’s College and not recognized by the university.

“Making assembly attendance compulsory may indeed be violative of the fundamental rights of students under Articles 25 and 28(3) of the Constitution and hence illegal. College assembly has always involved religious prayers and reading from the religious scriptures,” the associate  professor said.

Sanjeev Grewal requested the administration to withdraw the suspension order and to make attendance in the morning assembly and religious instruction voluntary.

“I also request that attendance in the morning assembly and religious instruction should be made completely voluntary, as per the fundamental rights guaranteed by our constitution. Lastly, I also request that penal disciplinary action against a college community member should be taken only as a matter of last resort,” he added.