St Columba's says will strive to get back recognition

New Delhi, Jun 23 (UNI) The capital's prestigious St. Columba's School has termed as 'misleading' reports that it had not responded to the notices received from the Delhi Education Directorate and vowed to take all steps to get its derecognition order revoked.

''We assure all the parents, students, ex-students and well wishers that we are committed to securing the future of our students, at all costs,'' School Principal Brother L.D. Lobo said in a statement on the school website http://stcolumbas.net ''We assure you that we shall take all the appropriate steps to get the derecognition order revoked,'' he said.

The school, alma mater to bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan among others, was derecognised by the Directorate of Education after an audit revealed it had transfered funds totalling Rs 1.83 crore to its parent society the Congregation of Christian Brothers in India (CCBI).

The withdrawal of recognition would take effect from April 2007 when the next academic session starts.

The Principal said the Delhi School Education Act allowed transfer of funds for other schools. St. Columba's, along with other Educational Societies, had filed a Review Petition challenging the High Court judgement prohibiting transfer of funds to the society.

''The Supreme court has entertained the Review Petition and has issued notice to the Delhi Government and the same is pending. The matter will be heard soon,'' he said.

St Columba's was one of the 21 educational institutions run by the CCBI which files its annual returns to account for the utilization of all funds received by it, including from the institutions which make a yearly contribution to it, he said.

State Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, on the other hand, said the government was concerned that the school had increased fees even while it had ''so much funds'' with it. The fee hike in such a case was not justified, he said.

Directorate sources said an audit was carried out in nearly 150 schools of the capital as per the routine drill. So far, only St Columba's had been derecognised.

Sources said the Directorate was also likely to propose amendment of the Delhi School Education Act, 1978.

UNI VN VD DS1545