Jumbo said in a release that Lodha & Co, which already handles the accounts of group companies Shaw Wallace & Co and Dunlop India Ltd, has been given additional responsibility of Hindustan Dorr Oliver and Mather & Platt as part of a global shuffle.

``This is consequent to the step taken by the Jumbo group to change their auditors for the worldwide operations from Ernst & Young, who were until recently their auditors, to another auditing firm of repute,'' the Jumbo release said.

Accordingly, Batliboi, the associates of Ernst & Young in India, have been requested to step down as the auditors of Jumbo group companies in India, the release said.

Batliboi pulled out of liquor major Shaw Wallace on March 30 this year. As for Mather & Platt, the engineering company is scheduled to hold an extraordinarygeneral meeting of its shareholders on May 6 to clear Batliboi's exit, among other things.

The Jumbo release quotes group chairman MR Chhabria as saying that the appointment of Lodha for all major companies is part of its plan for transparency and corporate governance.

``A Divestment Committee has already been formed to advise the company on the matters relating with the transparent and speedy divestment of our non-core businesses.... Appointment of Lodha & Co as auditors of our major business in India is another step in the direction of transparency and corporate governance,'' Chhabria is quoted as saying.

The appointment of Lodha & Co should put to rest all speculation regarding the exit of Batliboi, Chhabria said.

``It is a conscientious decision taken by the group. We are committed to bring in better systems, procedures and management practices in our businesses,'' according to Chhabria.

The major Jumbo companies are Jumbo Electronics, Supra Industrial Co, Dunlop India, Shaw Wallace, Combi PteLtd, Hindustan Dorr Oliver, Mather & Platt and Falcon Tyres.