Two Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs, Javed Ali Khan, a Rajya Sabha member, and S.T. Hasan, a Lok Sabha member, have expressed concerns regarding the delay in appointing a regular Vice-Chancellor (VC) for Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
They have taken the initiative to address this issue by writing separate letters to President Droupadi Murmu, who serves as the Visitor for all central universities, urging her immediate intervention.
In their letters, the MPs have hinted at the possibility of hidden agendas behind the prolonged delay in appointing a regular VC. They have stated that minority education and minority educational institutions have been facing potential challenges in recent years. These concerns were shared with the media by the AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA), an organization that has been advocating for the appointment of a regular VC.
Javed Ali Khan, in his letter dated September 1, emphasized that AMU has been grappling with policy paralysis due to an unprecedented delay in the appointment of a regular VC. He highlighted that the appointment process should have been completed before May 2022 but has now been pending for more than 16 months due to various reasons. Khan also expressed concern about the erosion of democratic institutions within the university.
S.T. Hasan, in his letter dated September 25, echoed similar apprehensions. He pointed out that AMU was currently stuck in a culture of adhocism, which could inflict long-term and irreparable damage to the university. He also alleged ‘ulterior motives’ of the Central Gov. behind the delay, considering the ongoing challenges faced by minority education and institutions.
The MPs emphasized the detrimental impact of not having a regular VC on the university’s operations, citing several key issues that remained unresolved or were pending due to the absence of a full-time VC. The issues included the implementation of reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS), the filling of vacant faculty positions, infrastructure renovation and expansion, enhancement of research and academic activities, and improvement of student welfare and campus security.
It is worth noting that after Tariq Mansoor resigned from the post of VC in April, following his nomination as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council by the BJP, the Pro Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Gulrez has been serving as the interim Vice Chancellor.
Mansoor had assumed office as VC in May 2017, and his tenure was originally set to end in June 2022. However, the Centre extended his tenure by a year, citing exceptional circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He resigned from the position before his extended tenure was scheduled to conclude.
In response to the delay, on September 6, the AMUTA organized a one-day protest, demanding the formation of a panel for appointing a regular VC. The AMUTA warned that if their demand for initiating the process of appointing a regular VC was not taken seriously, they might resort to an indefinite strike.
Additionally, nine members of AMU’s court, which serves as the supreme governing body of the university, wrote a letter to Mohammad Gulrez, urging him to take immediate steps to appoint a regular VC to prevent further ‘downslide’ of things at the prestigious institution.
