A student had moved the Delhi high court against the college challenging
his suspension and the ban on the online magazine's publication
On April 15, Mehta was suspended till April 23 after a one-man inquiry committee appointed by St Stephen’s principal Valson Thampu found him guilty of “breach of discipline”. Justice Vibhu Bakhru issued notice to Delhi University, St Stephen’s College, Thampu and professor Sanjay Rao Ayde, who conducted the inquiry, and asked them to file their response by May 21. Mehta, a third-year philosophy student, was allegedly suspended for launching the online magazine. During the hearing, Mehta’s counsel requested the court that he be awarded the Rai Saheb Banarsi Das Memorial Prize, for which he was earlier selected by the college. He was dropped from the list in the wake of the controversy.
The court, however, said the award, for which Mehta was selected, should not be given to any other student till the next date of hearing. “We can’t strip someone from the award,” said Justice Bakhru. The award was to be given on Saturday. Meanwhile, the court also asked Delhi University to act “impartially” in the case as it has to play “important role” in the case. The university counsel told the court that to some extent the student was guilty and he even has not denied the charges. “The charges are he spoke to the media. Will you (DU or college) suspend the student for this?” asked the court.
