Fact Finding Committee initiated by AMU raises serious concern

Report..Shozab Muneer

Aligarh   ,A letter No. DDE 121FFI/GF-06Dated:03/12/2024 is issued by the office of AMU Registrar. In the letter its mentioned that The Vice-Chancellor has constituted a Fact-Finding Inquiry Committee (FFIC) to investigate into the allegations (relating to heated arguments and physical assault on 21.11.2024 in the Department of Psychology), levelled by Prof. Shah Alam, Chairman, Department of Psychology and Prof. Shah Mohd. Khan, Professor, Department of Psychology, against each other in their written complaints dated 21.11.2024, 23.11.2024 and 25.11.2024, respectively.

The composition of the FFIC constituted by the Vice-Chancellor, is as under.
(i) Prof. Tabassum Shahab (Retd., Chairman and Convenor, FFIC
Department of Paediatrics, AMU
(ii) Prof. Rahimullah Khan (Retd.) Department of Physics, AM – Member, FFIC
ⅲ) Prof. M.Salim Beg (Retd.) Department of Electronics, AMU – Member, FFIC
The FFIC is requested to investigate the whole matter and provide a comprehensive report on the extent of involvement of both the teachers in the incident that took place on 21.11.2024 in the Department of Psychology, within 15 days, from the receipt of this office memorandum.
In this regard legal experts are saying that Why have the 2 teachers not suspended for being involved in violence in the department? Secondly, Why all members of the Inquiry Committee are retired teachers of the University? The Statutes power to inquire lies with the Executive Council and under the Statutes can only be delegated to persons working under the control of the EC, this is to ensure proper conduct of the Inquiry as such by persons who are then accountable and can be proceeded against by the University in case of faulting or playing mischief, whereas retired teachers are not under the control of EC and cannot be proceeded against by the University and therefore are not accountable. Thirdly, Prof Rahimullah Khan was an Inquiry Officer against a lady instituted by the then VC and submitted the report in 24 hours, which is impossible. The report found the lady guilty of charges. The then VC misled proceeded with action against the lady. The action was later on overturned by the EC and the lady was reinstated. Why is Prof Khan, with this background, is asked to conduct an Inquiry? Is the finding of the Inquiry already decided? Fourthly, Why are there two people from the same region as members of the Committee? Is it since the University thinks only people of that region are honest and efficient?
In this regard AMU PRO Umar Peerzada said that an inquiry is going on. Lets see its outcome.In another case A letter No. DDE 128/FFI/GF-06Dated:03/12/2024 has been issued by the office of AMU registrar In this letter its mentioned that The Vice-Chancellor has constituted a Fact-Finding Inquiry Committee (FFIC) to investigate into the complaint made by Prof. Satish Kumar, Chairman, Department of Wildlife Sciences, AMU against a female teacher (..........) Assistant Professor, Department of Wildlife Sciences, AMU through his communication dated 16.11.2024.

The composition of the FFIC, as constituted by the Vice-Chancellor, is as follows:
(i) Prof. Veena Maheshwari, (Department of Pathology) Dean, Faculty of Medicine

• Chairman & Convener
  ii) Prof. Aftab Alam, Chairman, Department of Strategic & Security Studies
• Member
  (iii) Prof. Mohd. Asif, Department of Economics.
• Member
  The terms of reference of Inquiry for the Committee are as under:
  1. To inquire into the reason and extent of involvement of a female teacher in getting the draft of letter (containing grave accusation against Dr. Asad Rafi Rahmani, an invitee to deliver a Lecture on October 21,2024) signed by M.Sc Students of Wildlife in which they had appended their signatures without reading its content and whether, there is any veracity in the allegation/accusation made with respect to the lecture delivered by Dr. Asad Rafi Rahmani which offended the religious sentiments of the participants. The letter was dispatched to various officials and was found to be in circulation on various social media platforms including AMU Network.
  2. To inquire into the matter of forcing students to attend the classes at International Training Hostel rather than engaging their classes at the designated class room at Quila Road Building, causing financial and physical hardships to them in commuting between the two buildings.
  3. To investigate the cases as alleged by the Chairman in his complaint dated 16.11.2024, where her involvement in provoking and making unfounded allegations against teachers have been reported specially the case where Dr…… had accused the Chairman of her harassment by fabricating allegations and posting the same on social media platforms.
  4. To investigate other such issues that have been reported in the complaint dated 16.11.2024, that needs to be addressed.
     The FFIC is requested to submit its report within two weeks containing specific findings on each allegation with documentary evidences and written statements from identified witnesses gathered during investigation/Inquiry. allegation According to legal experts event was on October 21, 2024 & reported on November16,2024. Inquiry is initiated on 11 December. Why are there such big gaps in the procedure?
     Secondly, it’s found out that students appended their signatures without reading its content/accusation..”? If MSc students cannot understand such things then how are they students of MSc?
     Thirdly Is there any complaint by the students regarding where they attended the classes?
     In this regard PRO Umar Peerzada said nothing is as such is in his knowledge