RIYADH, 21 December 2004 — M.L.R. Jafri, director of International Indian School, Riyadh, has been relieved of his duties following a majority decision of the managing committee not to renew his contract.
This was disclosed to Arab News by Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, chairman of IISR’s managing committee, who said the decision taken on Sunday night was in line with the charter of the Higher Board, of which he is also the chairman. According to the charter, the contract of directors of international schools in the Kingdom should not be renewed if the incumbent has attained 60 years of age.
Though Dr. Khan and Jafri played down the decision of the managing committee, school parents contacted by Arab News said the fact that it was a majority decision not to renew the contract after Dec. 31 shows that other factors were taken into consideration by the committee members apart from the age limit. There was also a lot of pressure from parents of the students who were calling for his replacement. According to them, Jafri was drawing a hefty salary.
Speaking on phone, the IISR chairman said they would be advertising the vacancy in Indian newspapers in order to fill the post before March next year.
Meanwhile, Manzar Jamal Siddiqui, principal of IISR, would work concurrently as acting director of IISR. Asked for his reaction, Jafri declined to comment beyond saying that it is a decision of the managing committee. “This is my second retirement,” he said, referring to his previous tenure at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, from where he retired in 1997 as First Secretary (Press & Information).
Meanwhile, office-bearers of the Osmania University Old Boys NRI Association have congratulated Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan on his election as chairman of the Higher Board of all international Indian schools in the Kingdom. OUOBNA committee members, including its President Mohammed Quaiser, Vice President Mohammed Basheeruddin Mateen and General Secretary Syed Shah Gulam Subhani described his election as well-deserved.
