Turf war plagues Allahabad school

Tension had been simmering since September 2009 when Morris took over as Bishop from A R Stephen. The battle turned ugly last week when Innes terminated the services of David Luke,an English teacher in BHS since 1986,and his wife Christabel Luke,also an English teacher in the school since 1989,with effect from July 1. He alleged that the couple gave private tuitions to students and harassed those who refused to join their tuitions. “I did what a principal was supposed to do,” said Innes.

On July 2,the Civil Lines police lodged an FIR following a complaint by Innes,alleging that Luke and his brother Neil had opened fire at his car in Civil Lines in a bid to kill him.

Two days after the alleged attack,45-year-old Christabel Luke lodged a complaint accusing Innes of attacking her and attempting to molest her. In a letter to DIG B B Sharma,she said Innes came to her home on the school campus on June 29 and tried to molest her.

Innes claimed he was in Nainital on the day of the alleged incident.

The Superintendent of Police (City) S P Baghel said: “I won’t be able to comment on the veracity of the allegations and counter allegations made until I probe the matter thoroughly.”

The trouble started in 2009,with Bishop Morris accusing Innes and former bishop A R Stephens of making amendments in the Allahabad High School Society Rules,which govern the institution,in order to disassociate BHS from CNI.

On a complaint from the bishop,the registrar of societies issued a notice to Innes. The Principal challenged the notice,but the High Court overruled his objections,following which he appealed in the Supreme Court contending that the registrar had no power to interfere in the management. The apex court,however,directed the registrar to hear the case on merit and the matter is still pending before him.

Nearly five months ago,the Bishop lodged a complaint with the George Town police,accusing the principal of forgery,fraud and financial bungling and an FIR was lodged. Innes,in turn,wrote to senior police officers claiming there was a threat to his life from the bishop.

The bishop,meanwhile,maintains that the CNI is the owner of the institution which Innes and Stephen are “trying to usurp”.

“Being the bishop and the religious representative of the community,I tried to convince Innes that what he was doing was wrong and against the interests of the Christian community,but he remained adamant,” said the Bishop.

“I am trying to save one of the oldest educational institutions from an individual who has become an autocrat. If Innes accepts his fault and apologises,I will forgive him. Had I nurtured any malafide intention against him,being the employer I would have terminated his services long ago.”

Innes is equally vehement that CNI had nothing to with BHS and that he was trying to save an institution to which he had given precious years of his life.

The school was founded in 1861 while “the CNI is a group of churches formed in 1970 basically for religious purposes. But of late,some bishops have started grabbing properties,” he said.

“The Bishop was out to destabilise me by creating rumours among the teachers. This has created a lot of confusion among the community members too,but I will not allow anyone to damage the institution,” Innes said.

The community members,meanwhile,are embarrassed by the ongoing mudslinging. “This is unfortunate. In the interest of the institution and the community,the dispute should be resolved as soon as possible,” said N L Singh,Principal,Bishop Johnson School.

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