The two-member Facts Finding Committee reached Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on August 20 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 (Retd.) Fakhruddin, former Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is the Chairman and Mr. A.H. Jung, IAAS (Retd.) former Secretary to Government of India, is sole member of the committee constituted by President of India, in the capacity of Visitor of AMU, under Section 13(2) of the University Act 1920. The committee has been authorised to devise its own modalities to complete its report within three months. Justice Fakhruddin declared that the committee will follow Qur’ānic guidelines 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 July 28, 2009. The reports in the media (July 27) gave a false impression that the inquiry is against the V.C. 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 Council of AMU and then moved to initiate inquiry against the University on a representation submitted to him on March 28, 2009 and a petition filed on March 3/5, 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 well in time and entertaining facilities at University Guest House, deliberately remained absent from the meetings to defunct the working of EC.
The representation, running into 450 pages sought ‘institution of a suitable enquiry’ into alleged ‘malafides, incompetencies, violation of Act, Statutes and Ordinances and blatant and reckless violation of standard financial norms and proprieties on the part of Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, 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 April 20, 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, duly approved by its EC, to the Visitor, to reach latest by the 5th May, 2009.’
Extraordinary promptness shown in this matter sheds light on how ‘resourceful’ is the group of the detractors of AMU. It is a well-known fact that when Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis 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 centres, tore the question papers and answer sheets, misbehaved with 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. Prof. Azis handled the situation promptly, judiciously and effectively resulting in restoration of normalcy. Now that academic activities are abuzz, examinations were held as 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 Madarsa 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 Wasim Ahmad have sought an inquiry into 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 emphasising that the VC has brought about conducive atmosphere on the University Campus and that the classes were being held peacefully and the examinations have 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. Azis has put a brake on this practice by giving building contracts to PWD and for cloths to Khadi Gram Udyog. This has annoyed the complainants.
The University submitted its reply to the notice dated April 20, 2009 duly approved by EC held on May 3, 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 assessment of these allegations arouses suspicions on the intentions of alligators. For example one of the complainants Prof. Habibur Rahman attended only 3 out of 16 EC meetings and alleged VC of holding meetings without quorum. For misappropriation of the funds, the University has advanced the fact that all accounts have been audited and cleared by Government Auditors per standard norms. So far as expenditure on security measures is concerned, they have approvals of MHRD, MHA and UGC etc.
[The writer is a senior Urdu Journalist and Gen. Sec. of Forum for Civil Rights. May be contacted at syyedagha@hotmail.com]