AMU Teachers Protest the Decision of HRD Ministry

AMU Teachers Protest the Decision of HRD Ministry

Aligarh : The Joint Action Committee of the Teaching and Non ­Teaching Staff, Technical Staff Association, Fourth Grade Employees Union and Students of the Aligarh Muslim University organized a Dharna in front of the Administrative Block to protest the decision of the Human Resource Development Ministry putting a ban on the executive powers of the Vice Chancellor of the University. The MHRD has sent a letter to the Registrar asking the Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis to refrain from exercising his powers to conduct any Selection committee, make any promotions or take policy decision of long time inferences.

The protesters, representing all sections of the AMU fraternity expressed deep sense of shock and agony on the letter and termed it a violation of Section 13 Clauses (2 to 5) of the AMU Act.

One of the oldest alumni of the University and eminent historian Padma Bhushan Professor Emeritus Irfan Habib said that the University's autonomy was not attacked even during the British rule. He said that the MHRD's unwarranted would adversely affect the life of a number of people attached to this grand old institution as the appointment and promotion of several rightful employees has gone in doldrums.

Prof. Habib said that two fact finding enquiry committees have proved to be inconclusive and the responsibility of this failure lies with the HRD Ministry.

The former Chairman of the Minority Commission of Delhi, Mr. Kamal Faruqui in his address said that the Aligarh Muslim University is the pride of Muslim community and a movement should be initiated against the attack on the autonomy of the University. He said that a handful of vested interests are tarnishing the image of the University. He alleged that the Union Minister, Human Resource Development, Mr. Kapil Sibal is anti Muslim and the employees of National Minority Commission have not been paid their salaries for the last two months. Mr. Faruqui said that the repressive policies of Sibal would create thousands of Anna Hazare. He appealed to the Muslim community to stage dharna in front of the houses of Sibal and Salman Khurshid till the restraining order of the MHRD is withdrawn.

The Joint Action Committee presented a memorandum to the President of India demanding the withdrawal of the decision of MHRD forthwith. It said that it is an attack on the autonomy and functioning of the University provided under Article 29 and 30 of the Indian Constitution, especially Para (3). The MHRD dictat violates the process of appointment of the new Vice Chancellor, whereby the Vice Chancellor is supposed to call the meetings of the University Court after the approval of five recommended names by the Executive Council.

The Committee observed that the decision reflects the vindictive, autocratic and non-receptive attitude of the MHRD to appease a handful of persons within and outside the campus on their misrepresentation of the state of affairs on the Campus. It said that it has jeopardized the functioning of the University by divesting the academic, administrative, financial and executive functioning of the University and further deprived considerably a large number of teachers, non­teaching, technical and fourth Grade employees of the University, who have been denied of their due confirmation, and promotion under Regular, CAS, ACP, MACP, and other categories. This will not only affect them emotionally, but also deny them of various financial benefits pertaining to their gratuity and pension, it added.

The Committee said that names of Visitors' nominee for various faculties are still awaited despite numerous reminders. The unwanted decision shall result in the lapse of over 250 teaching posts under XI Plan and appointment of over three hundred Guest Faculties would be averted, which are generally made in the months of August and September every year because of lack of teachers in various faculties. This will seriously affect the teaching in the University and adversely affect the interest of students of AMU.

It emphasized that the embargo on the Vice Chancellor's executive powers would prevent the processing and releasing of Funds from different sources, leading to the lapse of developmental funds. As a result, funds from UGC and other agencies for DRS, SAP, CAS or for infrastructural developments cannot be utilized.

Dr. M. Rizwan Khan, Convener, Joint Action Committee announced that the Committee will observe one-day token strike on August 25, 2011 and will sit on Dharna at 10.30 am in front of Registrar's Office.

Joint Conveners of Joint Action Committee, Dr. Shadab Khursheed, Dr. Ali Athar, Prof. Mursaleen and Rais Ahmad (President, Fourth Grade Employees Union), Secretary, Prof. Najam Khalique, Joint Secretary, M. Musahib Ali, President, Technical Staff Association, Executive Members, Prof. Mohd Anis, Professor Mohd. Shakir, Dr. Suhail Sabir, Dr. Zeba Hasan, Dr. Akram Javed, Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmad, Dr. Taqweem Ali, Mr. Salman Sabir (AMU Court Member), Mr. Rehan Ahmad, Mr. Mohd lIyas, Mr. Masarrat Husain (Non-Teaching Representative), Mr. Babar Azhar (Ex President, TSA), Mr. Qasim Ahmad (EX. Court Member), Mr. Ragib Ali and Mr. Qazi Faheem Akhtar were also present on this occasion and expressed their opinion.

Courtesy: http://indiaeducationdiary.in