E-zine row: Principal Valson Thampu says will gladly abide by court's order

New Delhi: St Stephen's principal Valson Thampu, who has been facing flak for banning a student e-zine, on Friday said he would gladly abide by the court's order staying the student editor's suspension on disciplinary grounds but maintained that he had acted in the interest of the college.

"I am a law abiding citizen, I may have a different opinion but I gladly abide by the order of law. But at the same time I maintain that I have acted according to the best of my understanding and best of my intentions for the institution," Thampu told PTI.

"No pursuit of excellence can distance itself from discipline, good conduct and respect for others. Values of an institution cannot be compromised under the pretext of free thinking," he added.

The Delhi High Court today stayed the order of Thampu suspending the student editor Devansh Mehta for "violating" discipline, asking whether anyone can be suspended for speaking to the media.

Mehta along with three other students started the e-zine, 'St Stephen's Weekly', which went live on March 7 and registered over 2,000 hits on an interview of Thampu, following which the principal ordered a ban on the publication for not taking his clearance on the content. He was suspended from college till April 23 following the report of the inquiry committee of Prof Sanjay Rao Ayde.

Thampu's move had invited criticism from the reputed college's alumni, including former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi and former Delhi Lokayukta, Justice (retd) Manmohan Sarin, who had requested the principal to reconsider the decision, terming it as 'extreme' and 'disproportionate'.