File photo of St Stephen's college.
The Delhi High Court has stayed the suspension of a student of Delhi's prestigious St Stephen's college, who had been barred from attending classes for launching an online magazine. The court has also issued a notice to the college and the Delhi University over the matter.
Devansh Mehta - the editor and co-founder of 'St Stephen's Weekly' e-zine - had moved court over the controversial decision of the college. His petition challenged the ban on the magazine and accused principal Valson Thampu of putting "fetters on the fundamental right to free expression".
In its order, the court said the relief was provided since the student pleaded that the suspension could irreversibly impact his career in Columbia school of journalism in the US, where he has been accepted. The Columbia university, he had said, might cancel his admission.
Devansh had also asked the court to restore a good conduct award which the college had stripped him off. He is to receive the award on Saturday from Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The court, however, has directed the college to not to restore the award till the next hearing, which will be held on May 21.
On Friday, the college students and alumni held a protest in the city in support of Devansh.
Devansh had been suspended till April 23 for "breach of discipline" over an interview of the principal last month. Mr Thampu had said the piece - which registered over 2,000 hits - had not been cleared by him for publication. The e-zine was also banned.
A third year student of philosophy, Devansh called the ban "arbitrary, illegal, malafide and shockingly unreasonable" in his petition. "I request Kejriwal to boycott the convocation in St Stephen's college," he said. But NDTV has learnt that Mr Kejriwal - who had been invited to be the chief guest - will attend the convocation.