Our Correspondent
Authorities at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) seemed to be making appointments to get embroiled into litigation these day. Some recent appointments by the AMU Vice Chancellor have got embroiled into the litigation putting a question mark on the integrity of the varsity. Yesterday Allahabad High Court has stayed the appointment of three assistant finance officers. Earlier this month, the Kerala High Court quashed the appointment of director of AMU’s Mallapuram centre.
Allahabad High Court prima facie found blatant manipulation in the process of appointment of these three officials who would be dealing with the finances of the university.
AMU authorities conducted a written test for the appointment of assistant finance officers. The written test was to ensure fairness in the selection process. The vice chancellor released an order that a candidate should score at least 40 percent marks to qualify the test.
However, an RTI query revealed that three people who got selected scored less than 40 percent marks. One Naseem Ahmed — who was not selected — got 43 percent marks in the written test. Naseem Ahmed approached the court to quash these “illegal” appointments.
Finding these revelations as shocking, Allahabad High Court has stayed the appointment of the three officials. The court has sought reply from the university and directed it to stop the salary of these employees till the court decides the matter. The next hearing of this case is scheduled for August 22.
Earlier this month, the Kerala High Court quashed the appointment of director of AMU’s Mallapuram centre slamming the use of emergency powers by Vice Chancellor.
In exercise of his emergency powers, Vice Chancellor Zameeruddin Shah appointed Dr H Abdul Azeez as director of the Mallapuram centre without going through the selection process. Kerala High Court has quashed this appointment. The high court said in the judgment: “According to us, such emergency power conferred on the vice chancellor is to be exercised in the manner as provided in the University Act and does not enable the Vice Chancellor to act otherwise.”
“Such an emergency will not justify bypassing of the statutory powers. We also find that such situations are taken care of by Statute 6B(6) of the University, which provides that in the event the office of the Director becomes vacant due to the reasons such as resignation, the duties of his office shall be performed by such person as the Vice Chancellor may appoint for the purpose.”
AMU vice chancellor is empowered with section 19(3) of the AMU Act. As per this Act, a VC can take any decision in an emergency situation. This power has been exploited by most vice chancellors.
Undeterred by sharp criticism by the court, AMU authorities are still going ahead with their agenda. TIA reported on Wednesday how some ineligible candidates has been shortlisted for the post of PRO.