St Stephen’s College student Devansh Mehta has alleged that the college administration has tampered his provisional certificate by denying him a character certificate.
Mehta, who is a final year Philosophy student is the same student who had a vicious spar with the principal Rev Valson Thampu who had suspended by him “on disciplinary grounds” after he went ahead with the publication of an e-zine in which an interview of Thampu was published without his approval.
Following the incident, Mehta had moved to court against Thampu.
In spite of the High Court order asking for an amicable settlement in the Stephens weekly matter, the Principal has created a lot of problems in giving me a provisional certificate. This certificate has a line “his/her conduct and moral character has been good during his/her stay in college.” However, this line is missing on my provisional certificate, making it an incomplete provisional certificate and thereby inadequate to submit to Columbia University where the term begins in 20 days.
– Devansh Mehta
According to a report in The Indian Express, Mehta has written to the St Stephen’s principal about the fresh issue.
A personal disagreement with the principal is not evidence of a bad character and I am most upset that it has been treated as such. It is quite disconcerting that a premier institution can intentionally indulge in vindictive and malicious acts designed to hurt a student’s future prospects.
– Devansh Mehta wrote in his letter to Thampu
He further revealed that when Usha Kaushik, the officer in charge of granting him the certificate, saw that it was the same student who had a clash with the principal, she immediately told him that she could not accept his submission.
Meanwhile, according to PTI reports, the college officials have denied to comment on the matter and principal Thampu, who is currently travelling said he has not received any word from the college administration.
Mehta however is in a fix as his admission application has already been accepted in Columbia University and he has to submit his educational documents to the university at the earliest.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)