Delhi University cannot impose on the St Stephen's College, at least as far as appointing a principal is concerned. The long drawn dispute between St Stephen's and the Delhi University was brought to a close on Thursday, August 21 by the Delhi High Court, which confirmed the former’s status as a 'minority institution' with a free hand to select a qualified person as principal.

The St Stephen's College has been directed to appoint a principal within eight weeks by a bench headed by Chief Justice AP Shah. It is since January 2007 that the principal's post had been lying vacant. The HC stated Clause 7(2) of Ordinance XVIII of the Delhi University Act as 'ultra vires and unconstitutional' to the extent it applies to a minority educational institution. The Delhi High Court observed that the clause will not apply for St Stephen’s, a minority institution.