|
Part 72, Issue # 171 - June 3, 2004
It all began in
November 1976 when soon after its inception Philatelic Congress of India (PCI)
became a member of International Philatelic Federation (FIP). In fact the PCI
was formed for this purpose only. However today, PCI does not even have a valid
registered office which is the basic requirement under the law for a society
incorporated under the Societies Registration Act; this is the status since last
8 years.
PCI has also violated several other laws of the land on large number of
occasions leading to filing of criminal proceedings and court cases against the
organization and individuals controlling the organization.
An extract from the order of Parveen Kumar, the then Civil Judge, Delhi dated
August 23, 2002 in one of the court cases pending against PCI seeking to declare
the Memorandum of Association and the rules and regulations as null, void and
not binding on its members and to ensure fair elections:
?Considering the facts and circumstances of this case I am of the opinion that
at this stage it would not be proper to stay the elections which are scheduled
to be held on 25th August 2002. However it will be in the interest of justice
that the result of the elections should not be declared till the next date of
hearing in this case. During the course of arguments, learned counsel for the
plaintiff requested that elections be held under some Court Observer so that
fair and impartial elections may take place. In my opinion the apprehension of
the plaintiff is genuine. Therefore, I hereby appoint Shri Munish Gupta,
Advocate, Chamber No. 126-127, western Wing, Tis Hazari, Delhi as Court Observer
in the present case. Learned court observer shall see that the elections of
Philatelic Congress of India at Rajasthan Mahila Mandal, Fojate Street, Cross
Lane, Opp. Saibaba Mandir, Mumbai - 36 are held in a fair and impartial manner.?
On the other hand PCI in their various submissions has stated that they are
without a governing council since August 25, 2002. Meanwhile there is no officer
appointed to conduct the business of PCI on their behalf. This is also mentioned
in the Editorial in the ?Signet? their quarterly journal, Vol. 26 Issue 1 dated
April-June 2003:
?Governing Council of the PCI is unable to function because of operation of a
stay order on the last elections held in Mumbai?
Besides the above case there are two more court cases against PCI currently
pending in court. These pertain to wayward judging and organizing of philatelic
exhibitions in India; not honoring the decision of the AGM in 2001 that newly
crated states in India shall be represented in the PCI governing council yet it
was ignored in the elections in 2002.
The country?s premier investigating agency CBI has registered a case against
Dilip Shah for smuggling of antiquities while similar charges are under
consideration against M G Pittie, S Sahoo, A R SInghee and others. Police
complaints for criminal activities against B K Sinha (Secretary of PCI) are also
pending. Many more such cases may come up against PCI now that the philatelists
of India are aware of the continuous wrongdoing of PCI and its officers.
All the above has not deterred Dilip Shah, who is falsely and illegally acting
as the President of the PCI. He was ?President-Elect? till August 24, 2002 and
according to the rules & regulations of the PCI was to automatically take over
as the President in the succeeding meeting after the elections where Sahoo would
have become the immediate past president and would have continued in the
governing council for the next two years. However no meeting of PCI general body
or the governing council has taken place since last 2 years hence Shah can not
claim himself to be the president.
Yet PCI is still continuing to send their own men and women as jurors and
commissioners to exhibitions abroad in violations of the laws of the land and
those of FIP and FIAP, with impunity. Even the participants are selected from
the recognized sycophants, favor seekers, hangers-on and owners of unqualified
exhibits showing Indian philately in very poor light.
PCI is still indulging in activities which in normal course no organization
would even dream of when the matter is sub-judice. All efforts to put the
affairs of PCI in order have been frustrated. M G Pittie led coterie of a few
individuals better known as ?P Company? that wants to control the affairs of PCI
treat it as their private property. These people don?t care about spoiling the
image of the Philatelists of India for their own vested interests. PCI?s
erstwhile Treasurer, Damyanti Pittie who is a close relative of M G Pittie has
spent huge amount of PCI money since August 25, 2002 in an unauthorized manner.
PCI records have not been accessible to the membership and no minutes have been
circulated of meetings after April 28, 2002. However this does not deter PCI
from publishing and circulating a hoard of lies in their publication ?Signet?
not only against those who don?t tow their line but against India Post as well.
This is also the subject matter of Contempt Of Court proceedings pending against
them.
The above is an internal matter for Indians yet it affects the standing of
Indians in the International philatelic arena. Hence an appeal to all member
federations of FIP, FIAP and all organizers of exhibition under FIP or FIAP
patronage to take cognizance of the facts above and not honor any appointment by
Dilip Shah and/or any one else on behalf of PCI without the approval of the
courts in India.
|