Despite objections from the University of Delhi, Susan Elias has taken charge as St. Stephen’s College’s 14th principal on Monday, becoming the first woman to head the institution in its 145-year history, sources said.

Meanwhile, university officials said they are awaiting further directions from the UGC.

Elias’s appointment was announced in a notification issued on May 12, after which the university wrote to the college, asking it not to proceed with the appointment, claiming that the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations had not been followed.

The university also wrote to the UGC seeking intervention.

On Monday, Delhi University (DU) registrar Vikas Gupta, said, “We have already written to the UGC, seeking intervention. We will wait for further instructions from them.”

Meanwhile, the principal page on the official website of St Stephen’s continues to remain blank, with the former principal John Varghese being listed as a faculty in the Department of English. Varghese’s profile still lists him as the principal of the college.

An official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The former principal, John Varghese, wrote a kind of parting email to everyone on Sunday. There is no confirmation yet on whether he will stay in the college as faculty or not.”

In a latest dispute, the college had also written to the college, objecting to proposals of absorbing Varghese as a faculty of the English department.

Meanwhile, the official added, “Whenever a principal takes charge, there is a sort of ceremony. However, as of now, we are not aware any such formal gathering.”

Elias is the first woman principal of the college in its 145-year history, since its founding in 1881.

The latest development underscores the continuing friction between Delhi University and St Stephen’s College over issues of governance, administrative control and institutional autonomy.

Also read: Indian Teacher Soma Mandal Wins Global Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award 2026