(Aligarh) Shozab Munir
Recently, some evidence has come to light in Aligarh Muslim University, which raises questions whether there is a shortage of legal experts in Aligarh Muslim University, or ignoring it is benefiting some priveleged people, with a mystical touch. If so, then this is a conspiracy to destroy the dreams of Sir Syed and his associates.
It is no secret that after Osmania University, Hyderabad, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, Aligarh Muslim University is on target. The case of the minority character of this institution is still awaiting hearing in the Supreme Court. New conspiracies are being made to defame this institution by all means. In such a situation, it is necessary for the AMU administration to hold itself accountable before taking any step so that the opponents of the institution do not get an opportunity. But in such circumstances, if the news of violation of the rules and regulations made by them comes to light, then it will be difficult for AMU to defend itself. It is also a fact that the teachers of any institution are the beacons of light for their students, students follow in their footsteps. If the teachers associated with the administration knowingly or unknowingly flout the rules and regulations, then it is bound to have a negative impact on the students, the consequences of which future generations will be forced to bear. General Selection Committees for various posts in the Department of Philosophy of Aligarh Muslim University are to be held soon on December 23, 2024, but a question mark has been placed on the said selection committees. In this regard, in a letter written by the teachers of the department to the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Professor Nai Ma Khatoon, the irregularities being committed in the conduct of the selection committee have been pointed out. According to the details, a letter has been sent to the AMU Vice Chancellor, a new mother, complaining that General Selection Committees will be held on December 23, 2024, to fill the vacancies advertised in the Department of Philosophy of AMU, which have several irregularities, including the fact that the period of these advertisements has also expired under the rules approved by the Executive Council. This is because more than two years have passed in several advertisements. In such cases selection committee cannot be held. A new advertisement should be issued to fill these vacancies as this will also afford an equal opportunity to persons becoming eligible for the posts under advertisement.
Rules regarding advertisements in AMU
According to the university rules, the advertisement is issued has a validity of two years from the date it was issued. In this regard, the former Vice Chancellor of AMU, Professor Tariq Mansoor (who is currently holding the post of BJP Vice President and MLC), during his tenure increased the period of six (06) months in a special case. In other words, the validity of the advertisement can be extended by six months but only in a special case, in that case the period of that advertisement will be two years and six months. On December 1, 2018, a notification was also issued by the then Registrar Abdul Hameed (IPS) in this regard, i.e. this means that even in a special case the life of advertisement expires after two and a half (2 ½) years after which a selection committee even for a special case cannot be held on the basis of that advertisement. But there are many posts in the selection committees to be held whose advertisement will be more than two years old, so the question arise how can so many posts be special, and if there are, the AMU administration is not ready to tell the reason for their being special.
The letter sent to the VC states that General Selection Committees are being held to fill up the vacancies advertised in the Department of Philosophy of AMU through several advertisement numbers. Advertisement No. 1/2022 2(T) was issued on February 1, 2022, the second advertisement 2/2022 (T) was issued on May 31, 2022 and the third advertisement 4/2022(1) was issued on August 6, 2022. It is not correct to have a selection committee on which it is also stated that the term of the panel of experts to be formed for the selection committees approved by the Aligarh Muslim University Executive Council has also expired. The Executive Council meeting No. 566 held on December 19, 1986, it was clearly decided that the tenure of the panel of experts will be only one year, which can be extended up to a maximum of six (6) months once by the Vice Chancellor. The panel of experts for Philosophy was approved by the Executive Council through its resolution on March 22, 2021, i.e. three and a half years ago. In such a situation, the holding of the selection committee on December 23 is unconstitutional because as per the rules the panel of experts has ceased to exist and a new panel should be formed.
Process of forming a panel of experts in AMU
A panel of experts is recommended by the Board of Studies of the departments and sent to the Academic Council, after being approved by the Academic Council, it goes to the Executive Council, which then approves it. In this regard, the Executive Council meeting No. 566 Resolution No. 11 was also held in AMU on December 19, 1986, in which it was clearly stated that the panel of experts will be for only one year, which can be extended up to a maximum of six (6) months once.
In this regard, it has also been complained that in the forms filled for the appointment of the post of professor in the Department of Philosophy of AMU, the documents of one candidate were accepted, while similar documents of another candidate were rejected, resulting in one candidate being declared eligible and another not for the post of Professor. According to the rules, to become a professor, it is mandatory the candidate must have guided/supervised research and the degree of PhD awarded to the scholar under her/his supervision, that is at least one PhD student must have completed the research and awarded the degree under his supervision. But a candidate in the philosophy department has written that he has supervised of three PhD students, and has not claimed anyone of them has been awarded the degree, but even then he has been declared eligible flouting all rules, whereas the other candidate was rejected on the same basis, which is a violation of the rules.
At the same time, in AMU’s Women’s College, a female candidate was given a call letter for the selection committee, while the other candidates have not been given one, whereas according to the rules, the candidates should get the letter at least ten days before the day the selection committee to be held. In the past, in 2023, when the application submitted by this female candidate to the Local Selection Committee was scrutinized, it was revealed that she had not attached a high school certificate, and therefore she was not considered eligible, and no one was appointed for this post, then later the same post was advertised again and she was appointed, while in this regard, if Zarzi is to be believed, this female candidate obtained a high school certificate in 2023 and got it included it in her documents, when the rule is clear that no documents can be attached after the last date of application, which in this was about a year ago. The question arises who said that the high school certificate of Enkai be included as a document after the last date?
Meanwhile, AMU’s MICPRO Professor Asim Siddiqui has said that the date of the selection committee will be considered from the date of publication of the advertisement. He also claimed that the period of the panel will be two years. When asked about the candidates who were called to the selection committee for the department of philosophy, he said that if there is any discrepancy in anyone’s documents, it will be checked and necessary action will be taken. When asked about the extension of the advertisement date, what kind of case will be considered a special case, he said that it is the discretion of the VC to consider which case as special and if he wants, he can consider any case as a special case, this is her/his power.
At the same time, legal experts are calling the statement of the MIC ridiculous that one, two, maximum three cases can be special, not all. It is also being said that keeping in mind the above points, selection committees cannot be held for other posts including the Department of Philosophy as they are not only against the rules of the university but also violate Article 14 of the Constitution. It has been demanded that the selection committees for the posts of the Department of Philosophy be stopped immediately and that instructions be given to issue advertisements again so that the selection committee can be held.
