New Delhi
More than 100 students at St. Stephen’s College of Delhi University may face exclusion from upcoming exams due to non-attendance of the morning assembly prayers, as per the college administration’s recent email communication. Students were suspended from classes for failing to participate in the prayers, leading to the potential exam exclusion.
Opposition to this decision has emerged among students and several faculty members who argue that compelling students to partake in religious rituals and prayers goes against the liberal principles of higher education institutions. The administration notified parents via email, urging them to meet with the Principal promptly to address the situation.
Sanjeev Grewal, Head of Economics at St. Stephen’s College, strongly opposed the decision and penned a letter to the principal expressing concern over the suspension threat looming over 140 first-year students. He emphasized that barring students from exams based on morning assembly attendance lacks grounds in university regulations.
Grewal highlighted that while the morning assembly is a St. Stephen’s tradition, it holds no recognition from the university, nor is attendance a prerequisite for exams. He suggested that mandating assembly attendance could violate students’ fundamental rights as per constitutional provisions.
Students, speaking anonymously, revealed that emails were dispatched on February 17 to inform over 100 first-year students about their suspension and exam debarment, following their failure to schedule appointments with the Principal, as requested earlier.
In written correspondence with the Principal and college seniors, students expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of arranging appointments, particularly for those whose parents reside outside Delhi NCR. They sought clarity on the grounds for suspension, as per college and university regulations, indicating their unawareness of morning assembly attendance being a consequential factor for exam debarment and suspension.
