Aligarh Muslim University: the reality of enquiry into its affairs

Urdu Section

30 Aug 2009, NewAgeIslam.Com

Aligarh Muslim University: the reality of enquiry into its affairs

Complainants are themselves under Scanner A close perusal of these allegations arouses suspicions about the intentions of agitators. -- Syyed Mansoor Agha URL: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1700 -----   Please see Urdu article below     Aligarh Muslim University: the reality of enquiry into its affairs   Complainants are themselves under Scanner   Syyed Mansoor Agha   The two members Facts Finding Committee reached A.M.U. Aligarh on 20th August 2009 and started the process of probe into 'the allegations against the Vice Chancellor as also the counter allegations made against the complainants' with the assurance of complete transparency and impartiality. Mr. Justice Fakhruddin (Retired), Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is the Chairman and Mr. A.H. Jung, IA&AS (Retired) former Secretary to Govt. of India, is sole member of the committee constituted by Honourable President of India, in the capacity of Visitor of Aligarh Muslim Aligarh, under Section 13(2) of the University Act 1920. The committee has been authorized to devise its own modalities to complete its report within 3 months. Justice Fakhruddin declared that the committee will follow Quranic Guide Lines to examine the witnesses. The order of inquiry issued under the signatures of Mr. S. Kumar, J.S., Department of Higher Education, Ministry of HRD, was made public, even before it was delivered to the V.C. on 28th July, 2009. The reports in the media (27th July) gave a false impression that the inquiry is against VC only and the fact that the committee shall also investigate allegations against the complainants, was mischievously suppressed. The order was issued in such haste that officials even forget to write date on such an important document.  The whole episode started in 2008-09 when Mr. Arjun Singh, was Minister of HRD. He first got nominated Mr. Wasim Ahmad and Dr. Mansoor Ahmad to Executive Counsel of AMU and then moved to initiate inquiry against the University on a representation submitted to him on 28th March, 2009 and a petition filed on 3/5 March, 2009 to the visitor by eight EC members including Chief Rector's (Governor of UP) sole nominee, namely Prof. Habibur Rahman and both nominees of the Visitor. All three nominated members are allegedly indulged in groupism and in-spite of reaching Aligarh before time and entertaining facilities at University Guest House, deliberately remain absent from the meetings to defunct the working of EC. The representation, running in to 450 pages sought 'institution of a suitable enquiry' into alleged 'malafides, in-competencies, violation of Act, Statutes and Ordinances and blatant and reckless violation of standard financial norms and proprieties on the part of Prof. P.K. Abdu Aziz, V.C, AMU.' It is reliably learnt that Mr. Arjun Singh snubbed EC members of Allahabad University; who approached him with the complaints against their VC alleging therein that he had spent crores of rupees in buildings without inviting tenders. However in sheer contrast he was sympathetic with complainants against AMU and promptly acted to institute the inquiry. On the advice of Ministry of HRD, the Visitor served a notice on 20th April 2009 to the University of her Intention to cause a fact finding inquiry in the matter 'requiring the University to make such representation in regard to the notice, dully approved b its EC, to the Visitor, to reach latest by the 5th May, 2009.' Extra ordinary promptness shown in this matter sheds light on how 'resourceful' is the group the detractors of AMU. It is a well known fact that when Prof. P.K. Abdul Aziz took over as Vice Chancellor, the University was passing through a turbulent period. Former Vice Chancellor Mr. Nasim Ahmad, an able administrator was targeted by unsocial elements and forced to abdicate his office in a huff.  His successor, the acting VC Prof M. Saleemuddin also met the same fate. He was followed by Prof. Hameeda Ahmad as acting VC and during her brief period, disgruntled elements entered in examination centers, tore the question papers and answer copies, misbehaved the invigilators and threatened the students, resulting in postponement of examinations. During the same period two students were murdered in the campus in quick succession. As a result the atmosphere was filled with fear and uncertainty and academic activities were at the back foot. A third meritorious student was murdered on 16th September 2007, just after joining Mr. Aziz. This provided an occasion to miscreants for vandalism and they put on fire VC Lodge and Proctors office.  As result the authorities were forced to close down the University and clean hostels of unauthorized residents, several of then no-students with bad characters.  Prof. Aziz handled the situation promptly, judiciously and effectively resulting in restoration of normalcy. Now that academic activities are abuzz, examinations were held per schedule and the intricate task of admissions completed smoothly, record number of +350 scholars submitted their theses and 248 awarded PhD degrees, 135 new research projects initiated, certain new prestigious courses introduced in the Faculties of Medicine, Engineering and Technology, some people want the VC to quit. The pioneering initiative to integrate Madrasa Education with university education attracted a large number of deprived students into mainstream education. A new course on Islamic Banking and Finance is also introduced. This all tells of the innovative vision of the VC but the disgruntled members of EC under the stewardship of Brother Wasim Ahmad have sought an inquiry in to his 'in-competencies' and Ministry of HRD has obliged. The alligators got support from AMU Old Boys Association Aligarh and some members of non teaching staff, who separately submitted their complaints against VC. However these allegations were contested by an '18- Member Group, comprising elected members of the University Court, EC, Academic Council and AMU Staff Association.' A detailed representation was submitted by this group to the Government, alleging that 'some disgruntled members of the EC, who have vested interests of various kinds are bent upon disrupting law and order situation which had been restored on the AMU Campus under the stewardship of the present VC and emphasizing that the VC has brought about conducive atmosphere on the University Campus and that the classes were being held peacefully and the examinations has been conducted on time.' Another 'delegation consisting of 23 elected representatives of the various statutory bodies of the University demanded inter-alia a CBI inquiry into the affairs of the University for the last over two decades with the view to ascertaining as to who the real culprits are.'  It is alleged that complainants have various types of personal interests. Some of them have been procuring various types of contracts from supply of building material to cloths and shoes for employees. Mr. Aziz has put a brake on this practice by giving building contracts to PWD and for clothes to Khadi Gram Udyog. This has annoyed the complainants. The University submitted its reply to the notice dated 20th April 2009 duly approved by EC held on 3rd May 2009. Each and every allegation is reproduced in a tabular form and reply of each one against it with 43 Annexure. The 8 member group thereafter submitted a rebuttal to the clarifications submitted by the University. A close perusal of these allegations arouses suspicions on the intentions of agitators. For example one of the complainants Prof. Habibur Rahman attended only 3 out of 16 EC meetings and accused the Vice Chancellor of holding meetings without quorum. For misappropriation of the funds, University has advanced the fact that all accounts have to be audited and cleared by Govt. Auditors per standard norms. So far as expenditure on security measures are concerned, they have approvals of MHRD, MHA and UGC etc. The author is a senior Urdu Journalist and General Secretary of Forum for Civil Rights. May be contacted at mail: syyedagha@hotmail.com) Source: Radiance Weekly: New Delhi0110025, Dated: 30 August-5 Sept, 2009 URL: http://www.newageislam.org/NewAgeIslamArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=1700