New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): Following intense appeals from students and parents, Delhi’s St. Stephen’s College has granted a one-time exemption allowing first-year students—previously barred due to low attendance—to appear for their semester exams.
According to students, Principal Prof. John Varghese has confirmed that those who failed to meet the 66.67% minimum attendance requirement across Semesters I and II will now be allowed to sit for their exams on June 13, 2025. ANI attempted to contact the principal for comment, but he did not respond to calls.
This reversal comes after affected students, referred to as “Junior Members,” submitted appeals to the college’s Grievance Redressal Committee. The committee subsequently approved the decision.
“The Principal grants a one-time permission for Junior Members who have fallen short of the required 66.67%… to take their exam on 13th June 2025,” stated the notice reviewed by ANI.
To avail themselves of this exemption, students are required to submit an affidavit affirming that they will not seek any further concessions related to attendance during the remainder of their time at the college.
The college also clarified that students who are unable to take advantage of this opportunity now may appear for the seven detained papers in their second year. Moreover, Delhi University has confirmed that students will be eligible for promotion to the second year if they pass at least 50% of their papers.
The controversy erupted on June 4 when the college published a list of 54 first-year students barred from exams for failing to meet the attendance threshold. Students and their parents alleged that many had valid reasons for their shortfall, including medical emergencies, personal crises, participation in official college events, and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
A student group calling themselves “Concerned Students of St. Stephen’s” claimed that the affected students were denied the opportunity to explain their circumstances and were treated with “hostility and intimidation.” According to the group, the Principal left the campus for ten days following the release of the detained list, leaving no senior authority to whom they could appeal.
“Our parents travelled from different cities and waited outside the Principal’s office from 8 am to 4 pm, only to be yelled at and denied even a few minutes of meeting,” read a joint statement from the group.
One student reportedly suffered a panic attack during an encounter with college security and was allegedly denied medical assistance despite visible distress.
Critics within the student body have described the college’s attendance enforcement as “arbitrary and inconsistent,” noting that attendance rules are often communicated late in the semester, and requests for exemptions are routinely delayed or disregarded.
They also pointed out that the position of Vice Principal has been vacant for nearly ten years, leaving a void in grievance redressal and administrative accountability.
“This is not the first time. Last year, over 100 students were punished for missing morning assemblies. There is a pattern,” said the group.
The students are now calling for a formal apology from the administration, the reinstatement of departmental attendance review systems, and a more transparent and accountable decision-making process. (ANI)
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