La Martiniere board battle reaches Calcutta High Court

Source: telegraphindia.com

The two permanent ex-officio governors of the board of La Martiniere schools have moved the high court on Monday against an interim order restricting the board of governors of the two schools from taking any decision till July 31.

The two ex-officio governors — Reverend Paritosh Canning, the bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North India, and Swarup Bar, the presbyter of St Andrew’s Church — have moved the appeal before the division bench of Calcutta High Court.

The four former nominated members of the board of governors who were removed also filed another petition on Monday, challenging the trial court’s decision that ex-officio governors have the right to remove the four members of the board of governors.

High court sources said both appeals would come up for hearing on Thursday.

Justice Arindam Sinha’s order on Friday, barring the board from taking any decision till July 31, followed petitions by the four former acting governors challenging the decision of the two ex-officio governors to remove them from the board on June 18.

The petitioners are Gerry Arathoon, secretary and chief executive of the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations; Anjali Das, principal of United Missionary Girls High School; Suchitra Guha, former Tata Steel HR head; and Anil Mukerji, Tollygunge Club CEO.

The new board of acting governors comprises Most Reverend Prem Chand Singh, moderator of the synod of the Church of North India in Delhi, Alwan Masih, general secretary of the synod, Abir Adhikari, the vicar of St Paul’s Cathedral, Calcutta, and Terence Ireland, principal of St. James’ School Calcutta. “If the board of acting governors is not allowed to take any decision, how will the school function,” Supriyo Dhar, secretary of the La Martiniere schools, said.