No quota, only preference to Christian teachers: St. Stephen's

The Supreme Council of the St Stephens college has cleared the air about reservation in its faculty, stating, although it prefers Christian candidates, there is no faculty quota.

After the controversial increase in Christian quota for the students, this is the second issue, to be hyped by the media alleging that the college has also reserved seats for Christian teachers.

According to Sunil J. Matthews, advocate, speaking on behalf of the Supreme Council, the religious character of the institution, doesn’t interfere in the appointment of teachers in the college.

“There has been a misunderstanding between the faculty and Dr. Frank regarding the appointment of two teachers in the history department. The Supreme Council, which has taken on the role of a peacemaker, met both the parties yesterday (Wednesday) and asked them to sort out the problem between themselves,” Matthew told reporters at the Church of North India Bhavan.

The argument began after an uproar between the teaching faculty of the college and acting head M.S. Frank, on the appointment of two Christian candidates as teachers in the history department.

About the selection of teachers to India's most prestigious St Stephens, Mathew said, “Of course, we give preference to Christian candidates. If there are two applicants with equal minimum qualification and one is a Christian while the other is not, preference will be given to the former. But in no way will the standard of education in the college be compensated with.”

Mathews told IANS, "Considering that St. Stephens is a minority institution, just five of the 70 teachers being Christians is not done. We don’t want to comment on what Dr. Frank’s intentions were by which he filled up both the vacancies in the history department with Christian candidates, but the Supreme Council’s stand is clear – there is no reservation."

St Stephens found in 1881, is run by the Church of North India. Being one of the premier institutions in the country, the college has produced a long line of outstanding alumni