Stephen’s begins probe against DU Teachers’ Association head

The governing body at St Stephen’s College in North Campus, New Delhi, has initiated an inquiry against Nandita Narain, the president of the Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) and senior mathematics teacher. According to a report in the Times of India, a three-member inquiry committee has been constituted and given two months to submit its report on the allegations that Narain made defamatory and critical comments against the principal, Valson Thampu. [caption id=“attachment_1338579” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  St Stephen’s college. IBNLive image[/caption] “In the GB meeting, Narain said that though she spoke about the issues of sexual harassment in the college to the media, she denied making defamatory statements, according to sources,” says the Times of India report. According to another report in the Times of India, Stephens’ teachers are unhappy with this development, terming it an attack on free speech and democracy. According to the report, president of Academics for Action and Development (AAD), J Khuntia, urged teachers to come together and protest the move, calling the inquiry “an attempt to frame Narain on fictitious ground” and aimed at demolishing the teachers’ movement in the country. In an open letter which was published on the Kafila website in April 2013, students of St Stephen’s had collectively voiced their dissatisfaction with the administration’s approach to women’s safety.