The dispute between the incumbent principal of Sherwood College, Amandeep Sandhu, & Peter Dhiraj Emmanuel, who was appointed interim principal in Oct 2020, reached the High Cort of Uttarakhand once again on Wednesday, as the Sherwood Diocesian Society sought a clarification on the Court’s earlier order granting police protection to Emmanuel.
The Sherwood Diocesian Society, an extension of the Agra Diocese, which is responsible for the administration of Sherwood College & appointed the new principal, sought a clarification on the Court’s earlier order granting Police protection to Emmanuel.
Justice Ravindra Maithani – who sat on the division bench along with acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath – recused himself.
Maithani was the 2nd Judge to recuse himself from the case after Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia did it last Wednesday. The hearing has now been pushed back to Thursday.
Mahesh Jethmalani, Senior Lawyer appearing for the Sherwood Diocesian Society, argued that he had earlier prayed for police protection while Emmanuel would take charge as principal. However, he said the order just granted them protection & not the power “to effectuate their prayer” (police were authorized only to provide cover, not help them enter the school & take charge).
As reported by the news agency, the officials of the Diocese of Agra, along with Emmanuel & police personnel, had reached Sherwood College on Saturday. However, the doors remained locked & they were not let in. The group visited again on Sunday but to no avail.
Over a century-and-a-half-old Sherwood College is the alma mater of some of most famous & renowned personalities in the country, including actor Amitabh Bachchan & Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Sandhu was suspended by the Agra Diocese in Oct over allegations of financial irregularities & Emmanuel, who was formerly with St Joseph’s College, was appointed the interim principal. Emmanuel had tried to take charge in Oct as well but was stopped. Sandhu refuses to give up his post, alleging there is a conspiracy against him & that the school falls under the Bishop of Lucknow or Bishop of Delhi, not Agra.
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