By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The prestigious 150-year-old Boys High School and Colleges (BHS) and the Girls High School and Colleges (GHS) in Allahabad, which gave luminaries as bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, former prime minister VP Singh, have become a bone of contention between two Christian groups.
On one side is the outgoing principal CV Innes who also is nominated MLA from Anglo Indian community in Vidhan Sabha while pitched against him is Rt Rev Bishop Morris Edgar Daan of Diocese of Lucknow which controls the Churches of North India (CNI).
Founded in 1861 the BHS is regarded as one of the oldest and prestigious institutions of Allahabad. It has given luminaries as former prime minister VP Singh, bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju and former Chief Secretary of the state Yogendra Narain.
After the initial infighting for gaining control of the institution through paper now the fight has spilled over on streets. On Tuesday, Bishop Morris alleged that goons of CV Innes tried to gain forceful entry in the GHS which was averted by police. “Even I feel threatened by this act. I have written to state government and also to Prime Minister Office (PMO) for providing me adequate security as a gunner,” said Bishop Morris. He has plans to meet Chief Minister Mayawati for airing his grievances.
Bishop Morris even alleged that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Vijay Bahadur is aiding CV Innes who is threatening him for gaining control over the institutions. “Innes has lodged FIRs against me but my application with the police has gone unheard. It reflects that local administration is under pressure from them due to their political clout,” he said. He also accused Innes of fraudulently usurping the property of the institution by transferring them to his associates.
Bishop Morris, however, admitted that after the tug of war he has finally gained control over both the institutions in Allahabad. “I have reappointed David Luke as principal of BHS and Neelima Lovely Singh as principal of GHS. CV Innes has retired in 2008 and was continuing illegally on the post of principal. He is no more associated with the institutions,” claimed Bishop Morris.
Both the institutions are governed by Allahabad High School Society which is headed by Bishop, CNI. Bishop Morris took over as its head from earlier Bishop AR Stephens. “Now CV Innes is no more its secretary and we have appointed HR Mull as the new secretary,” he added.