Claims Dan has no right to appoint anyone, cites status quo invoked by HC
Prayagraj: Boys’ High School (BHS) & College one of Prayagraj’s finest, oldest and most prominent educational institutions, boasting distinguished alumni that include notable figures like actor Amitabh Bachchan, Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju, and former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh is currently embroiled in bitter controversy involving David Luke, the acting principal and alleged Bishop Morris Edgar Dan of the Diocese of Lucknow, Church of North India.
BHS is managed by the Allahabad High School Society, and as chairman of the society, Bishop of Lucknow Church of India (CIPBC) John Augustine explicitly stated, “Moris Edgar Dan has no right to appoint anyone as the Principal of BHS as he is not even the Member of the society and matter is pending before the Allahabad High Court and there is an status quo in operation. As per the order, I am the Chairman of the society,”’ he remarked.
He claimed that the move to dismiss the acting principal, David Luke over alleged submission of a forged postgraduate degree is a ploy and deep conspiracy to take over the 200-year-old Boys’ High School (BHS) & College. He also opined that appointment of L French in place of David Luke is illegal, which will be challenged by him in the court.
To corroborate and vindicate his stand, he said, “L French is a retired teacher of BHS with DOB 02.12.1955. He is not a CNI member but a Roman Catholic, who has already taken his gratuity from the school.”
Commenting over the move to illegally appoint L French as BHS principal, DA Luke warned fraudsters of repercussions and cited order of writ petition number 30896/2022, by which the High Court has authorized the representative nominated by the District Magistrate to operate the school account with the order of the Principal DA Luke. The school account is being operated as per the rules.
“By order dated 07.05.2024 in Writ Petition No. 30896/2022 and Writ Petition No. 12640/2024, the order of the Assistant Registrar on which Morris Edgar Dan was considered Chairman has been stayed/suspended/stopped by the High Court. Against the order of the single bench of the High Court, Morris Edgar Dan filed Special Appeal No. 538/2024, on which the High Court dismissed the petition of Morris Edgar Dan. After the order of the High Court, Morris Edgar Dan or any other Bishop is neither the Chairman nor the Bishop of the school and neither has any authority to suspend/dismiss any teacher, Principal or to manage the school in any manner whatsoever in relation to the school. Morris Edgar Dan and his son Alan Dan and their associates were demanding crores of rupees from the Principal DA Luke’s wife for extortion and on not paying the money, they are making false allegations and sending letters with the intention of taking over the school by hook or crook, which is being published in the media due to lack of correct information about the facts,” he remarked.
Principal DA Luke has shot off a letter to the Chief Minister, DGP and District Administration along with a copy of the Hon’ble High Court. After the order of the Hon’ble High Court, Bishop Morris Edgar Dan has no connection with the school.
Meanwhile, Bishop of Lucknow John Augustine cited a letter issued by the Synod of the Church of North India, which allegedly reinstated Bishop Morris Edgar Dan. He questioned the veracity of claims that no criminal cases are going on against Bishop Morris Edgar Daan. He cited the FIR registered in Jhansi, where police have also filed the chargesheet.
“Police executed a warrant for arrest issued by the Allahabad High Court on 15 Dec 2013 against Bishop Dan in connection with criminal cases lodged against him in Jhansi and Allahabad for fraud and forgery. He was duly terminated by the executive committee of the CNI synod on 25 November 2013. Chargesheet have been filed and the case is near its logical conclusion. The Axis Bank scam will haunt him. He has not been granted relief in any of the cases,” retorted John Augustine while responding to queries of mediapersons on the issue.
In a strongly worded statement, Bishop John Augustine said, “Disputes over the disposition of church land holdings and allegations of corrupt dealings have plagued the church in recent years. In these days and age, with land sharks around, many are apprehensive about the future of church. Some office-bearers of the Churches of North India including the Bishop were operating in connivance with land mafia and selling off clandestinely prime property owned by the church and leasing it on patta. He alleged that in 2013 a prime property belonging to Christian Inter College in Jokhanbagh area of Jhansi city under the control of Presbyterian Church valued at around Rs 20 crore was sold reportedly by the Bishop Morris Edgar Dan and his associate Harrison Ram Mull for a sum of Rs 1.25 crore by executing an agreement to sell with some party/parties. In this connection an FIR under Section 420/467/468/471 has been lodged against the Bishop and his associates at Nawabad police station in Jhansi Sadar. It has also been alleged in the FIR that the accused took a sum of Rs 6 crore as underhand payment from land mafias.”
