From correspondents in Delhi, India, 09:01 PM IST

The Delhi High Court Wednesday pulled up the administration of the St. Stephen's College for not appointing a full-time principal despite its earlier direction.

On a petition of a former teacher seeking directions on the issue, the bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar asked the college administration to appoint a full-time principal at the earliest as the college was running without one for over 18 months.

The bench was hearing a public interest petition filed by R.K. Malhan, a former faculty member of the college, through his counsel Sachin Datta.

However, counsel appearing on behalf of the college said it was abiding by the guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and had issued advertisements too inviting applications for the post.

Datta earlier contended before the bench that the institution was running without a head even as the admission procedure for the new academic session started this week. There is an apprehension of irregularities in admission due to the absence of a full-time principal, he said.

The college's Supreme Council has appointed vice-principal M.S. Frank as pro-tem administrator after Valson Thampu resigned from the post of Officer on Special Duty and officiating principal in March.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)