DPs disPute singes shunglu as Khushwant vote missing
Some DPS Society members claim that former CAG, V.K. Shunglu used unethical practices to achieve his victory as chairman.
Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) V.K. Shunglu, who is considered to be a man of unimpeachable integrity, is in the eye of a storm following his election as the chairman of the Delhi Public School society last month. His detractors are alleging that Shunglu won because the vote cast by Khushwant Singh, the oldest member of the society went missing under mysterious circumstances. Khushwant Singh is understood to have cast his vote in favour of Shunglu’s rival, Ashok Chandra but after his vote became untraceable, the former CAG won by a single vote (9-8) with one member, noted Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan abstaining.
The society, which runs more than 100 schools in India, including DPS Mathura Road, DPS R.K. Puram, DPS Chandigarh and DPS Mumbai, and some outside the country, has 19 members, who were eligible to vote this time. The controversy has taken an ugly turn, with some members claiming that Shunglu had used unethical practices to achieve his victory. It is being alleged that after his win the new chairman of the society went to Khushwant Singh’s house at Sujan Singh Park and presented him with a bottle of Scotch. But the senior journalist asked him why he was giving him this gift knowing fully well that he had not voted for him. Shunglu’s detractors wonder why no other member of the society was given a bottle of Scotch and why only Khushwant Singh was singled out. “It is a serious charge and Shunglu must clear his name. He has in the past made many recommendations including action against those found involved in the Commonwealth Games scam. He must clear his name to avoid a question mark even on his recommendations,” a senior member of the DPS society said on the condition of anonymity.
Shunglu, when contacted by The Sunday Guardian, said, “I do not speak to newspapers. I am very sorry about this.”
As the controversy about voting in the society reached its peak, the members decided to set up a three-member Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) comprising External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and former Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Ravi Vira Gupta, all members of the society. According to the society rules, the DRC has to have members who were not contesting for any post. The DRC in its report submitted earlier this month suggested that a re-election should be held given that the vote cast by Khushwant Singh, who is a very eminent person and a senior member, could not be counted. It has been further recommended that the suggestions and recommendations should be placed before the general body of the society to take a final view on the matter. There is also a suggestion that the conduct of some school owners, who illegally tried to influence the outcome of the election, should be probed. However, Shunglu has refused to call a meeting of the general body, raising doubts over fair play in the polls.
The Delhi Public School society, runs more than 100 schools in India, imcluding DPS R.K. Puram and DPS Chandigarh. Some of the school owners, who illegally tried to influence the outcome of the election, should also be probed.
However, V.R. Vaish, former vice president of the society and a member of the working committee, on Wednesday, in a letter to the secretary demanded that there should be a re-election for all the posts. He questioned the conduct of S.L. Dhawan, the returning officer and said that he should have informed Khushwant Singh that his ballot, which had been sent to the society, was untraceable. “This was necessary as the messenger who went to Khushwant Singh to collect his ballot paper was informed that the ballot paper had been sent to the society.” He said that “All this has rendered the election invalid and there is full justification in having a fresh election. From the study of the report several other matters also arise which render the elections to the post of chairman and vice chairman null and void. The matter should be resolved in-house, in a general body meeting.”
Meanwhile, even as questions are being asked about Shunglu’s conduct, there seems to be a conspiracy of silence amongst members of the society and no one is ready to talk. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, when contacted, said that he could not comment on the matter. Admiral M.M. Chopra, the vice chairman and a contestant this time, said that he was not even aware of the whole thing, so there was nothing he could say. He advised that the society secretary, Ranvir Taneja, should be contacted to ascertain facts. Ranvir Taneja was not available. Ravi Vira Gupta, when contacted, said whatever the DRC had to say was in its report. The meetings of the DRC, he said, were held at the official residences of either Salman Khurshid or Montek Singh Ahluwalia. He said that he was an IAS batch mate of Shunglu. Incidentally, he is also related to Ashok Chandra, the loser. Salman Khurshid, on his return from Male, said on Friday night that he was very saddened with the developments: “A hypo technical view is being taken. The DRC recommendations are very clear. A general body meeting should be convened to resolve the issue as early as possible.” Ashok Chandra, former chairman and the losing candidate, did not respond to calls and SMS messages. Khushwant Singh was unable to take the call as his attendant said that he was in no position to do so.
The DPS society had on 12 December last year decided to reduce the electoral college for the election and had excluded principals and vice principals of various schools from participating in the poll. The decision meant that the original practice of only the society members voting was restored.
The elections were announced on 27 December and S.L. Dhawan was made the returning officer. Dhawan told The Sunday Guardian that as the returning officer he had given his report in writing to the DRC and had also personally met its members. There is nothing more than this that he could say as the DRC had already given its recommendations.
In the past, DPS society elections have never generated this kind of controversy, which is the topic of discussion amongst the DPS community, past and present. On several occasions, the chairman of the society has been elected through consensus.