Notice to Tribune trustees

CHANDIGARH, April 13: UT Civil Judge Senior division H.S. Madaan has issued a notice for June 10 to president of the Tribune Trust B.K. Nehru and other trustees in a civil suit filed against them by plaintiffs Sukhdev Singh and Karamjeet Singh.

The plaintiffs requested the court to issue directions of enquiry into the accounts and management of affairs of the Tribune Trust, for settling a scheme and for implementing the will of the founder Dayal Singh Majithia and for determining and issuing guidelines for the appointment of trustees. It was stated that the plaintiffs have a locus standi to file the suit as they have interest in the trust, being on its pay-rolls.It was mentioned that the defendant trustees, including B.K. Nehru, R.S. Talwar, Sarla Grewal, R.S. Pathak and R.P. Bambah never cared to uphold the basic mandate of the founder of the trust. After the death of the founder, it has been a rare chance to see the appointment of trustees who owe allegiance to the Brahmo Samaj to which the founder belonged.

It was also stated that another basic mandate of the founder, which was to run the affairs of the printing press and the Tribune in an efficient manner was not being given importance.

They added that the Tribune and its two sister publications were stagnating in terms of circulation. Circulation of the Tribune on January 1, 1981 was about 1.65 lakh, while on January 1, 1999 it was 2.05 lakh. This shows a less than two per cent annual average rate of growth in the past 18 years. On the above grounds the plaintiffs requested the court to order inquiries and other reliefs prayed for.