DERA GHAZI KHAN, May 21: The principal of Divisional Public School & College (DPSC) has resigned just two months after assuming charge of his office.

Sources said the principal, Sheikh Mohammed Tahir, had resigned after his demands for an audit of the school accounts and termination of two staff members were turned down by District Coordination Officer Saqib Aleem, who was the chairman of the DPSC board of governors.

As many as eight out of nine principals have not been able to complete their tenure since the establishment of DPSC in 1984, allegedly because of undue interference of the district administration in affairs of the institute.

According to the sources, Sheikh Tahir, whose joining had been delayed by eight months after his selection for the post, was never allowed to use the principal’s office. A lobby, led by DCO’s wife who was serving on the honorary post of DPSC coordinator, was not interested in having a principal, as it wanted to retain its monopoly on the institute affairs, they added.

Sheikh Tahir tried to get the school accounts audited when he came to know about gross irregularities in purchase of equipment besides out-of-merit appointments and promotions. However, the DCO turned down the proposal in his capacity as the BoG chairman for reasons best known to him.

According to sources, irregularities to the tune of Rs3.5 million had been pointed out by the principal, but the matter was being hushed up.

When contacted in this regard, the DCO said that audit was a routine matter and would soon be conducted. However, he was unaware as to when the accounts were last audited.

He said he had the authority to terminate the staff but not the principal.

It may be mentioned here that as many as 17 teachers of Koray Khan Public School, Muzaffar Garh, were terminated after the transfer of the then deputy commissioner Saqib Aleem from the area, as they were said to have been recruited by him illegally.