BoG 'makes' KC Principal to resign

LAHORE In a much-anticipated move, the Board of Governors of the Kinnaird College for Women has finally been able to show the exit door to Principal Dr Bernadette L. Dean, and a novice educationist has been elevated to the post of Principal. Later, a press release was issued by the BoG of the KC asserting that in an emergency meeting held on Saturday, under the chairmanship of Bishop of Lahore Dr Alexander John Malik, accepted the resignation of Dr. Berna-dette L. Dean and appointed Rukhsana David as the acting Principal. The Board appreciated the services of Dr. Bernadette L. Dean and wished her good luck. Interestingly, word 'appointed should not have been used by the BoG since a summary in this regard is yet to be moved by the Higher Education Department to Chief Minister Punjab, as it has been mentioned in the Punjab Kinnaird College for Women Ordinance 2002, which says, Principal will be appointed by the Punjab government after recommendation of the Board of Governors. After CMs nod, any person can be said to have been appointed as Principal, whereas an impression has been imparted that Dr Rukhsana David will hold the forte since she enjoys the support of the BoG. On the other hand, this BoG has been allowed to continue despite there is no provision of this in the Ordinance, while the Board is yet to be reconstituted, and hence its validity is still under question owing to the reason that it has not been notified yet, maintained a source, who has been privy to the 'Kinnaird crisis. The outgoing Principal Dr Dean did not attend Saturdays meeting, and is said to have sent a written letter-cum-three-month-resignation notice to the Board. Dr Dean maintained that since she has not been allowed to work, and the Vice-Chairman BoG Eric Messy has been creating mess out of everything since the latter is chairman of many College committees; hence the letter must be considered as an intimation to the Board as a three-month notice period prior to resignation, confided the source, adding that the termination letter and salary cheque as per Dr Deans appointment agreement had been ready if Dr Dean would have resisted Boards 'request to resign. Certainly, Dr Dean did not allow her adversaries to draw the pleasure of stigmatising her with 'termination in her Resume, which was done with Dr Dean predecessor Dr Ira Hassan, who got faxed order of termination while she was on her desk, opined the source.