Court seeks DPS Society’s response on Khushid expulsion

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Monday sought the response of Delhi Public School (DPS) society on an appeal filed by Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, challenging the single bench’s refusal to grant any relief regarding his expulsion from the society.

Hearing Khurshid’s appeal, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar asked the DPS Society to file their response by Dec 8.

A single judge bench last month refused to grant any relief to Khurshid, contending Khurshid did not avail the opportunity given to him by the DPS Society after the expulsion letter was issued, so the society is not liable for anything.

“The balance of convenience does not lie in favour of the plaintiff (Khurshid) but in favour of the defendant (DPS) as the defendant is agreeable to give the plaintiff a hearing,” Justice Manmohan Singh said Oct 27.

Khurshid Sep 10 filed a petition challenging his expulsion from the society for conducting “anti-DPS” activities after he had accused it of irregularities and alleged that it was indulging in commercialisation of education.

He had charged the society management with collecting money from DPS schools in the name of licence and signing fees, which violates the Delhi Education Act.

“The society was collecting between Rs.500,000 and Rs.1 million from franchisees for using the societys name and logo and for an agreement to run the schools, he said.

Khurshid, a DPS alumnus, had been a member of the society since 1984.