JEDDAH, 28 June — International Indian School, Jeddah Managing Committee Chairman Abdul Rahim has denied that he wants the school lawyer not to pursue the building case.
"A discrepancy seems to have crept in in translating the letter from English to Arabic and back to English," explained Abdul Rahim while showing the original letter written in English.
He said his aim was to point out to the lawyer that the school managing committee had not approved pursuing the case in the court and hence the school will have no liability. "I also wanted to highlight the fact that Basharatullah Khan had acted undemocratically and unethically in pursuing the case without sanction from the managing committee, in a bid to achieve his own personal agenda," Abdul Rahim said.
The chairman said Basharatullah was misusing his authority and had indulged in "goondaism" while forcibly taking the school letter head and seal.
Abdul Rahim said after the initial court verdict in favor of the builder, the majority of the managing committee members wanted to reach an amicable settlement with the builder but "Basharatullah hijacked the managing committee" and filed the appeal without the committee’s approval. "Basharat and the lawyer did not brief us on the court verdict," he said.
He showed Arab News a copy of the school bylaws, which says that the chairman had the power to nominate coordinators for various school subcommittees. "If I have the power to nominate Basharat, I also have the power to cancel that nomination," Abdul Rahim said.
He said the 99-year lease agreement with the builder is worth SR 31.156 million, out of which about SR24 million have already been paid to him. "As per the terms of the lease agreement, after paying the full amount, the school would have just paid SR10,000 per annum for the next 49 years," Abdul Rahim added.
Abdul Rahim said lengthy, long-drawn litigation was not in the interest of the school. "Winning or losing is not important. I am talking about principles. Suppose the school wins the case, in whose name will the building be transferred since there are rigid real estate laws here?" he asked.
Abdul Rahim said he had sincerely and conscientiously performed his duties as chairman for the last two and a half years, giving his time and energy in carrying out totally voluntary work in the service of the community.
When Arab News contacted Basharatullah Khan for his reaction to Abdul Rahim’s comments, he denied that he had acted unilaterally. "It is Abdul Rahim who acted alone in writing the letter to the lawyer and by asking him not to pursue the case," Basharat said.
He refuted Abdul Rahim’s claim that he had the power to nominate coordinators of subcommittees and in proof presented a copy of the school constitution which says the chairman can "nominate a coordinator of a subcommittee after a majority vote of the managing committee".
He also denied the charge that he forcibly took the school letter head and the seal. "The charges are absolutely baseless."
He said of the three-member subcommittee for the school building, two were present during the managing committee meeting on June 17. "There were four members of the committee present and resolved to go in appeal against the initial verdict."
Meanwhile, eight candidates are in the fray for seven seats of the new IISJ managing committee, elections for which are being held today, when Abdul Rahim’s term ends.
