New Delhi: A US-based researcher has expressed distress over his appointment being politicised and refused to accept a job offer at St Stephen's after an alumni group alleged that the institution was hiring undeserving teachers.
"I am deeply distressed at the way my appointment is being politicized as I gather from various sources.An impression has been created that my appointment is based on something other than my academic merit.I consider this to be a personal affront.
"I have worked hard for my merit and have proved myself in extremely competitive circumstances and my work is well recognized and respected in my field. The communalization of my appointment (going by the information available to me) is a piece of injustice," Dr Cecil Joseph said in an email to college principal Valson Thampu.
Joseph, an alumnus of St Stephens' college, who is currently an adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, had applied for the post of Assistant professor in the physics department and was selected for the same.
However, objecting to the allegations being raised of the college's selection process being in favour of Christians, he turned down the same.
"I attended the interview at a huge cost, overlooking the firm offer of a permanent position in my University in the US out of my love for the college. Under such circumstances I find it difficult to accept the offer. No serious and self-respecting academic can work in hostile circumstances and do justice either to the institution or to his own potential," he said.
The Old Stephanians Association, which is not recognized by the college, had alleged that seven out of the eight teachers appointed during March were Christians.
"The Stephanians are aghast with the way the principal has used the canard of minority rights and protection of interests of Christians by deliberately selecting undeserving teachers just because they belong to a certain minority community," the association had said in a statement.
The college had dismissed the allegations, saying all appointments were made in a fair and transparent manner and candidates were selected on the basis of merit.
