Mumbai: A group of Managing Committee members of the 169-years-old iconic David Sassoon Library and Reading Rooms here have resigned alleging “unconstitutional” working style of its current office bearers.
The members accused the present officer bearers of “indulging in financial irregularities”.
A group of members of the Library, including Managing Committee member Shobha Pawar, who resigned this morning, also demanded setting up of an ad-hoc committee during its Annual General Meeting, scheduled for September 23.
“In the history of the 169-years-old institute, this is the first time that we (a group of Managing Committee members) have suspected financial misconduct in the books of accounts and the delay in repairing the heritage structure,” said Ralphy Jhirad, the Convener of the Friends of the David Sassoon Library and Reading Rooms.
The Library at present has a stock of over 70,000 books.
It has 3,000 odd members, most of them permanent ones.
Jhirad alleged, “Petty interests of a handful of people have defeated the whole purpose of visionary philanthropist David Sassoon who formed the library in 1847.”
“The heritage structure is also in bad shape and the leakage in its roof might trouble the students who sit for studies. We want all these discussed in the AGM before approaching the Charity Commissioner,” he said.
The library building, a grade-1 structure, situated in Kala Ghoda is in dilapidated condition.
Solomon Sopher, Chairman and Managing trustee of the Sassoon and Allied Trust, and the permanent nominated member on the Managing committee of the David Sassoon Library also addressed the reporters.
He expressed his disappointment over the happenings.
Despite repeated attempts, officer bearers of the library were unavailable for comments.
(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:www.nativeplanet.com)
