The University of Delhi (DU) has issued a strongly worded letter objecting to the appointment of Professor Susan Elias as the new principal of St Stephen’s College, directing the institution not to proceed until a Selection Committee is properly constituted in accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations 2018.
In an official letter dated 14th May, addressed to the Chairman of the college’s Governing Body, the DU Registrar cited media reports of the appointment and stated that the university had not been requested to nominate experts as required under the regulations. The letter states that a selection committee as per UGC rules was not formed to select the new principal.
The letter states, “You are requested to not proceed with appointment of new principal and convene a meeting of the Selection Committee constituted as per the provisions of UGC Regulations 2018 quoted above.”
It further clarifies: “The University has not been requested for nomination of experts as per the provisions of UGC Regulations 2018… In view of the above, it appears that the Selection Committee for the appointment of new principal in the college has not been constituted with provision of UGC Regulations 2018. Accordingly, the recommendations of such a committee cannot be implemented upon.”
University of Delhi objects to the appointment of Principal in St. Stephen's College.
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2026
"…You are requested to not proceed with appointment of new principal and convene a meeting of the Selection Committee constituted as per the provisions of UGC Regulations 2018 quoted above." pic.twitter.com/JFNObSCKPT
The letter by Delhi University reproduces Clause 5.0 and Sub-clause VIII-A of the UGC Regulations 2018 on minimum qualifications and selection procedures. The required composition for the Selection Committee for College Principal (and Professor) is:
i) Chairperson of the Governing Body to be the Chairperson.
ii) Two members of the Governing Body of the college to be nominated by the Chairperson of whom one shall be an expert in academic administration.
iii) Two nominees of the Vice-Chancellor who shall be Higher Education experts in the subject/field concerned out of which at least one shall be a person not connected in any manner with the affiliating University. (Special provision for minority institutions: one nominee of the Chairperson of the College from out of a panel of five names, preferably from minority communities, recommended by the Vice-Chancellor of the affiliating university of whom one should be a subject expert.)
iv) Three Higher Education experts consisting of the Principal of a College, a Professor and an accomplished educationist not below the rank of a Professor (to be nominated by the Governing Body of the college out of a panel of six experts approved by the relevant statutory body of the university concerned).
v) An academician representing SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Women/Differently-abled categories, if any of candidates representing these categories is the applicant, to be nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, if any of the above members of the selection committee does not belong to that category.
vi) Two subject-experts not connected with the college to be nominated by the Chairperson of the governing body… (with similar minority provision).
The UGC rules further states that five members, including two experts, shall constitute the quorum. Moreover, all selection procedures must be completed on the day/last day of the meeting itself, with minutes, scoring proforma, and recommendations made on merit, duly signed by all members.
The objection comes days after St Stephen’s College announced the appointment of Professor Susan Elias on May 13, 2026, making her the institution’s first woman principal in its 145-year history. Founded in 1881, the prestigious Delhi University-affiliated minority (Christian) institution named her as its 14th principal. She is scheduled to assume charge on June 1, 2026, succeeding Professor John Varghese.
Professor Elias is a computer scientist and academic administrator with nearly three decades of experience in engineering education and interdisciplinary research. She holds double PhDs from IIT Madras and Anna University. Her appointment has been widely hailed as a landmark moment for gender representation and a potential push toward integrating technology and AI into liberal arts education at the college.
This is the latest flashpoint in a long-standing tussle between St Stephen’s College and Delhi University over governance, autonomy, and regulatory compliance. The college has historically asserted its minority rights in principal selections, while DU has repeatedly insisted on full adherence to UGC norms.
