Where will other Christian boys go, ask activists
Durgesh Nandan Jha
New Delhi: Christian bodies have taken exception to the decision of St Stephen's College to prefer Christian candidates belonging to the Church of North India (CNI), and especially those associated with the Delhi Diocese. They said that the college should take a lenient view and ensure seats for Christians belonging to all denominations. The fact that Jesus and Mary College and many other Catholic schools do not have any preference order among Christians is also being raised.
"Within the law, it's their right to work for its own denominations and jurisdiction. Having said that I would like to put up the point that there is no college for Christian boys in this part of the country (North India). Jesus and Mary College (JMC) is the only Catholic Church-run college in Delhi but it is only for girls. So if the other Church-run college - St Stephen's College - prefers its candidates from their own denomination, boys belonging to other Christian denominations would have nowhere to go," said John Dayal, an Christian activist who found and presides over the All India Christian Council and United Christian Forum for Human Rights.
He said JMC and other colleges run by Catholic Church like Loyola College Chennai, St Xavier's Mumbai and others do not have preference among various Christian denominations.
Reverend Dominic Emmanuel SVD, Director and spokesperson, Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, said that he has checked with the Bishop of Church of North India, Delhi Diocese on the matter and that there was nothing to worry. "The Bishop has assured me over phone that no discrimination would be made against students from other churches. It may be noted that Jesus and Mary College or many other Catholic schools do not have a policy in the line of the one mentioned above. Besides, these are early days, and we will have to wait and see how things turn out in the end," said Emmanuel.
A prominent faculty member of the college, meanwhile, added that the CNI should first take some affirmative action for the poor and 'dalit Christians' coming to the college for studies rather than just increasing quota, which is more of a publicity act. "I have been teaching in this college for the last 20 years. Many Christian students from poor family background come to study here but rather than being blessed with high quality education standards, they are stuck in the English lingo. Few teachers teach in Hindi here and there is no provision of special coaching for them," he said.
Meanwhile, spokesperson of the College Supreme Council Sunil J Matthew reiterated that the CNI was right in preferring Christian candidates of its denomination. "The fact that earlier 15 per cent relaxation was given to Christian candidates was not approved by the Supreme Council. Some college teachers spread the word, who were opposed to the new admission policy."
June 20, 2008,
Source: dailypioneer.com |
