RTI Query Forces Jamia to Set up Panel to Probe Allegations Against VC

Publication: Times Of India Delhi; Date: May 29, 2009; Section: Times City; Page: 4

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jamia sets up panel to probe allegations against Hasan

New Delhi: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has set up a committee to probe allegations against vice chancellor Mushirul Hasan that he misused his office during appointments and naming some buildings on the campus. The inquiry committee will be headed by retired judge of Delhi High Court S K Aggarwal.

    Hasan, whose term as VC ends on June 9 this year, is alleged to have misused his office in the appointments for AJK Mass Communication and Research Centre (AJK MCRC) and the newly established dental institute. Questions are also being raised over the naming of the history department block after his father Mohibbul Hasan.

    Complainant Mohammad Shadab Sami filed an RTI after he was not allowed to join the varsity despite being appointed as lecturer by Jamia committee.

    Said Sami, ‘‘I had received an offer letter from Jamia’s selection committee, stating that I was appointed as a lecturer of still photography at AJK MCRC. However, I was not allowed to join despite completing all formalities. I was supposed to join by April 13, 2009. I just wanted to know if there was a valid cause for the inability of the VC to issue my joining letter. I sent him letters regarding the above enquiries and got no reply. In the mean time, candidates who got the appointment letters for other departments assumed their duties.’’

    While Iftikhar Ahmed, director, AJK MCRC refused to comment on the issue, Hasan said: ‘‘I have nothing to say as I have acted according to the statues and ordinances.’’ However, a senior faculty of AJK MCRC commented: ‘‘There can’t be smoke without any fire.’’

    Sami also said according to HRD regulations, no VC of central universities can either appoint or hold any appointments two months prior to his last date of tenureship. Rakhshanda Jalil, director, media and culture, JMI, said an inquiry committee was constituted once it was brought to the notice of the VC that the complainant was the nephew of the then registrar. Jalil said: ‘‘During the last few months we had to hold selection committees in AJK MCRC and the Faculty of Dental Studies. We informed the secretary, human resource development, about it vide a letter dated April 9, 2009.’’