St Stephen's governing body approves of professor for contesting DUTA polls

The St Stephen's Governing Body today approved the leave application of college professor Nandita Narain for contesting the DUTA polls after the same was turned down by principal Valson Thampu, prompting her to threaten legal action to pursue the matter.

Alleging "victimisation" and "harassment", Narain who is seeking re-election as the Delhi University Teachers' Association president, had yesterday threatened legal action against Thampu if she was not granted leave "within 24 hours". Narain, a mathematics professor, had applied for three weeks' earned leave so that she can campaign for the election slated for August 27. Thampu had turned down the application, saying "cannot oblige".

The Governing Body, which is the supreme decision making body, today approved the leave application at an emergent meeting. "The leave was approved by the Governing Body at the meeting today," a GB member confirmed. 

Narain has been at loggerheads with Thampu in the past as well, when she dragged him to court for ordering an institutional inquiry against her for allegedly defaming the institution.

The fresh dispute came against the backdrop of the Stephen's principal indirectly attacking Narain in connection with a molestation row involving a Stephen's research scholar, when he accused the DUTA chief of being one of the "handlers of the controversy".