Early this month, the national panel had termed Thampu’s nomination as OSD a case of mal-administration and called for “urgent corrective measures”, starting off with the designation of a new principal.

The petition of the college was centered on the argument that the Commission did not consider the “fact” that it, being a minority institution, did not fall under the ordinance provisions prescribed under the Delhi University Act.

“The Tribunal found fault with the college administration for not sending a panel of three names of candidates to the Vice-Chancellor, who would then select the eligible one. As a minority institution, we are under no obligation to go by this process and the principal can be selected by the Governing Body and Supreme Council of the college,” submitted M K Bishnoi, counsel for the college, before Justice Gita Mittal.

Bishnoi also took exception to any role by the varsity in the appointment process of the principal and said the college was “wholly justified” in rejecting any recommendations from the university. On the other hand, the national panel had chided the college for justifying Thampu’s appointment under the “cloak of a minority institution’s autonomy”.

The court further directed the University Grants Commission to clarify on Thampu’s PhD status on another petition, which came up for hearing today, filed by ex-student Sheetal Singh pointing out that Thampu’s educational status did not qualify him for the post.

“As per legal provisions, to qualify as OSD, one needs to have a PhD in a subject taught in a college. Thampu claims to have a Ph.d in Theology, which is not a part of the syllabus, from a college in Allahabad. We have only brought this matter under the court’s scanner,” said Sachin Dutta, counsel for Singh.

“The ordnance under the Delhi University Act only says PhD without elaborating,” retorted Bishnoi.