Ludhiana’s premier school under scanner, magisterial probe begins

Tribune News Service

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Ludhiana, August 10

The working of one of the oldest and premier schools in the city has come under scanner after its alumni alleged mismanagement in its affairs.

Following the serious allegations levelled by the New High School Alumni Association, led by Bharti Enterprises vice-chairman Rakesh Bharti Mittal and Avon Cycles Group owner Onkar Singh Pahwa, a magisterial probe has begun into the working of the institution.

However, the managing committee of New High School has refuted the allegations and has termed these “false and baseless”. “We have a parental body with trustees and members on board and it’s working properly and there is nothing wrong in it,” the body’s deputy director Dr VL Patel claimed while citing PSEB affiliation as the sole reason for lowering student strength in the school.

Established in 1938, the school, which has two separate wings for boys and girls, was one of the most sought after institutions in Ludhiana. Top businessmen, bureaucrats and educationists were among the alumni of the school.

A three-member probe panel, led by SDM (East) as its chairperson, and comprising District Education Officer (Primary) and District Industry Centre General Manager, as its members, will submit its fact-finding report to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) on or before August 15.

The DC, Sakshi Sawhney, had on August 5 ordered a magisterial probe into the case after Rajya Sabha MP from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora brought the matter to her notice.

The MP, while forwarding a representation received from the school’s alumni association, had written to the DC on August 1 that it has been brought to his attention by the association, headed by its chief patrons Rakesh Bharti Mittal and Onkar Singh Pahwa, that reputation and operational integrity of New High School (Civil Lines and Sarabha Nagar), once a prime institution of the state, have significantly declined under the current management committee.

“There are serious allegations that the committee is misusing school properties for personal commercial gain, which is detrimentally affecting the school’s primary objective of providing quality education,” he said.

The MP mentioned that considering the concerns expressed by the alumni association, he would urge the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to delve into the affairs of the school society. “The SIT should be tasked with investigating the management committee’s actions since 1997-98 and determining whether there has been any misconduct or misappropriation of the school’s assets,” he demanded.

He added that findings of the investigation would be crucial in ensuring that the school could continue to serve its educational purpose and uphold its esteemed legacy.

The alumni association, in its representation to Arora, on July 16, had mentioned that the school, with two campuses at the Civil Lines and Sarabha Nagar, was the most sought after institute in Ludhiana from 1938 to early 1990s till the time it was run under an able management committee. “Both school wings achieved milestones under their previous management. Getting admission to the institute was considered a great achievement,” the association members recalled while adding that top businessmen, officers and educationists of Ludhiana and elsewhere were products of the school.

They alleged that under the present managing committee, the school’s standard started deteriorating with both wings becoming almost defunct due to what they alleged as incompetent management committee.

“They are using the school properties as personal properties with commercial interests rather than growth of the schools to impart education,” the association further alleged while demanding a probe into the affairs of the school society for restoring the lost glory of the institution.

Probe to ascertain facts: DC

“The magisterial probe will ascertain the facts in the matter and further action will be initiated as per law on the basis of the fact-finding report,” said Sakshi Sawhney, DC

Institution’s prestige at stake,says MP

“It is a serious matter where the prestige of a premier institution of Ludhiana is at stake. We will not let anybody destroy or misuse any institution and will ensure their proper functioning,” said Sanjeev Arora, RS MP