17 local organizations slam AOD's move as 'prejudiced'

DPS Digboi controversy

From our Correspondent

DIGBOI, May 14: Regarding the unpleasant developments taking place between the magement of Assam Oil Division (AOD) of IOC and DPS Digboi centering round alleged fincial and other anomalies and sudden auditing of DPS accounts without third party expertise, a joint meeting was held at the JD Enterprise office near Jasoda Talkies on Sunday evening in Digboi to protest against AOD magement.

 Jiten Dutta, the joint secretary of Digboi Unyan Samity, said that the entire situation was the outcome of  the aggressive outlook of the AOD magement towards  RS Chowdhery, the Principal of DPS Digboi in particular, whom the magement has vowed to oust at any cost for a mysterious reason.

Addressing the gathering of representatives of various local student bodies, including the AASU, pin-pointed towards the lapse on the part of the AOD magement which failed to conduct the regular auditing of the DPS accounts effectively, resulting in the present unhealthy scerio. “If at all anomalies are detected, let the accountable person be booked in consultation with the DPS Society, New Delhi,” said Dutta. The organizations opined that curtailing and suspending water and electricity services at the AOD allotted residence of the Principal was an inhuman act carried out by the magement. Meanwhile, the organizations, assuring of addressing a press meet to this effect on Monday afternoon to oppose the move of the AOD magement, will demand  for fair and deserving treatment to the head of the school, simultaneously taking appropriate steps against him if the crime committed was proved.

  “Only 35 per cent of children in DPS are the dependents of AOD employees, rest being children of non-AOD employees. Hence, we ought to interfere and cannot stand to see the school being sandwiched for some vested interest,” warned Dutta. “The AOD magement has been exploring all possible means to drive the Principal away within a few months to exhibit its winning drive,” he alleged. The meeting also decided to urge the AOD to open up the centery park for the public which has been locked following the immersion of idols by the people of Digboi, defying the restrictive provisions of the AOD recently. However, when contacted, a top AOD official justified the act of curtailing the water and electricity services at the bungalow allotted by AOD to the Principal three years back. “It is the interl magement decision to have the bungalow vacated. The Principal was served a notice to this effect earlier in the month of April but he did not comply in spite of time deadline set by himself till May 12. As such we interrupted the service last evening,” he said.

 According to the official sources, based on the audit findings and other related allegations against the Principal, the AOD magement will settle the issue taking the DPS Society, New Delhi into confidence. The interrupted services in the bungalow were restored by AOD on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, sources at the DPS Society, New Delhi informed that the allegations were not potential and convincing enough to initiate any drastic action against the Principal.