HYDERABAD: Dairatul Ma’arifil Osmania (Osmania Oriental Publications Bureau) was established in 1888, is a treasure trove of rare manuscripts and books and is globally acclaimed.
Nowadays, it is in midst of controversies, because of the termination of service of four sub-editors and allegations of embezzlement of crores of rupees released under the scheme of the ministry of minority affairs called “Hamari Dharohar”.
According to a media report, the terminated employees approached the HC and asked to consider their request of regularizing their services. Last year on December 13 while disposing of the writ (WP No. 3,290 of 2010), the court directed the respondents to consider the case of the petitioner in accordance within a period of 4 weeks.
Dr Mehjabeen Akhter, director of the institution, rejected the plea and issued termination notice on January 10, 2019. In the termination letter, she cited financial crisis and no substantial work to allocate as a reason for their termination. On the very next day, she issued a notification, inviting application for 8 posts of sub-editors.
The Centre had launched Hamari Dharohar scheme and sanctioned Rs 37.71 crore for modernization, digitization, translation and re-printing of classic books available at Da’iratu’l Ma’arif-il-Osmania, over a period of five years.
It was alleged that the director had claimed bills on already printed books; she had included her name and changed the title pages, prologues and epilogues of the books to show that the work was done freshly under “Hamari Dharohar”.
Dr Mohammed Iqbal Mukarram, a scholar, has demanded a high-level inquiry into the affairs of the institution and the autocratic attitude of its director.