ALIGARH: Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual head of the Bohra Community of India has been elected as the Aligarh Muslim University Chancellor. He secured 97 votes against 33 votes secured by Mahmoordur Rahman, a retired IAS officer and former Vice Chancellor of the AMU after an election in the highly publicized meeting of the AMU Court, the supreme governing body of the University.
Syedna’s election as AMU Chancellor is an evidence of Aligarh Muslim University’s timeless relationship with his family. Syedna’s grandfather Syedna Tahir Saifuddin was Chancellor from April 12, 1953 to April 28, 1965 while his father Syedna Burhanuddin served the University during 1999-2002.
Nawab Ibne Saeed Khan of Chhatari was unanimously elected as the University’s Pro-Chancellor while Prof. Habibur Rahman, former Vice Chancellor of Agra University was elected as the University’s Honorary Treasurer unopposed.
The University Court members also elected six persons from amongst them to represent it at University’s Executive Council. The elected members include noted scientist Dr. Shahid Jameel, well know educationist and Vice President, Indian Council for Cultural Affairs Prof. S. N. Pathan, former Indian Hockey Captain and noted Olympian Mr. Zafar Iqbal, former Chairman of Delhi Minority Commission Mr. Safdar H. Khan, former Minister in UP government Mr. Kaukab Hameed and Lucknow based industrialist Mr. Khalid Masood.
Declaring the results, the AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah hoped that the University will be benefited from the elected personalities and they will continue to extend their cooperation in the development of the institution.
The court meeting was attended by 132 members including six members of Parliament, Mr. Naseem Ahmad, Chairman, National Commission for Minorities, Mr. Rizwan Ahmad, former DGP UP, Mr. Wazir Ansari, Director General of Police, Chhatisgarh, Mr. Mahmoodur Rahman and Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, former Vice Chancellors and Mr. Rashedd Masood, former MP.