NEW DELHI: The draft amendments to the constitution of the St Stephen's College have sent ripples of panic through the institution's community. The most troubling features, say teachers and alumni, are the hugely expanded powers it seeks to bestow upon the Church of North India through the Supreme Council and the drastic changes planned for teacher's service conditions. The governing body meeting, at which the proposals were to be tabled, has been postponed to November 30.

Meanwhile, the college's teachers are rallying support for resistance.

St Stephen's College, insist its alumni, has been a minority institution, but secular in spirit. It tolerated -even encouraged -the thread of gentle irreverence that ran through many student activities.That character may be under threat with some alumni, including sociologist Ramachandra Guha, expecting it to "become even more of a Christian ghetto". "If the Church interferes with the administration, it will destroy the ethos and spirit of the college. With the governing body's role diluted, the Christian character will be paramount and there may even be religious tensions," says another alumnus, a senior bureaucrat. Sandeep Dikshit, for long a critic of the present administration of the college, agrees. "St Stephen's as an institution has been on decline.From a great institution with a minority character, it has become a communal college," he says. Questions are being raised about whether this will impact admissions. A teacher informs that 40% of the college's seats are for general category and 50% for Christians.

But even more trouble could be coming the college's way should this draft be passed as these changes could put its affiliation to Delhi University at risk. The college was granted constituent status on the basis of the old constitution -it was first written in 1913 and amended several times since. "The college agreed to adopt the university's conditions on teacher recruitment, service conditions, composition of the governing body and syllabus.

The constituent status was granted on that basis. Now that that entire premise has changed," says Nandita Narain, mathematics teacher and also president of the Delhi University Teachers' Association. "In fact," says another teacher, "the university may institute an inquiry and suo moto expand the GB." Matters of service conditions, for instance, are the DU executive council's province. "Anybody in any position of authority must first read what the draft says," says Sudhir Joseph, treasure of the Supreme Council that'll be in charge of the proposed `St Stephen's Education Society' treasurer. "This is being done to bring the constitution in line with the Societies Act; it will not be changed in such a way that provides only for a community but it is already a Christian minority institution. Certain rights under the purview of the university will not be infringed upon, but as a minority institution, we also have certain rights."

That, however, is not how teachers see it. The college isn't known for its teachers' activism, but Narain says, "They've been calling me up.They suddenly remembered we are supposed to have a staff association. We're meeting tomorrow (Monday)." The draft is bad news, especially for teachers. "There's the fear that all non-Christians will be second-class citizens. The principal has been given disciplinary powers and to choose who gets to stay on campus," says Narain. Till now, disciplinary action against teachers required university's "explicit permission". Teachers observe that with Supreme Council becoming main decision-making body -everyone calling the shots will be from the Church and nearly everyone "an outsider" and "nonacademic".

Dikshit, at least, has no problems with expansion -as the constitution of an "educational society" and the definition of "institutions" portend -as long as quality is maintained; others are not so sure."This brand is known only for the college. Now, the prinicpal is trying to extend it, stretch its value but that may not work. It's reputation has been established over a century . It may lead, ultimately , to the dilution of the brand," says an alumnus, a lawywer. "The changes," alleges a teacher, "are intended to unleash a reign of terror. The principal is trying to create an opportunity for his own growth and, in the process, ruining the institution."