Joint Press Release issued by various Muslim organisations regarding an inquiry ordered by Mr Kapil Sibal, Hon’ble HRD Minister

It is shocking that the Hon’ble HRD Minister has ordered an inquiry against Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University in respect of certain allegations levelled by some vested interest groups who have their self interest and self aggrandisement agenda. They have been using the university as there private fiefdom deriving great financial benefit from the building construction and uniform contracts etc. If any VC comes in their way, they oppose him as they opposed the Ex-VC Mr M N Farooqui and forced Mr Nasim Ahmad, the then VC, to flee from the university. They are against the present VC because this VC gave the building contracts to the CPWD and uniform contracts to the Khadi Gramudog. They also terrorised the VC by instigating a group of unruly students accompanied by outside bad elements who burnt the VC residence to ashes.

Nobody interested in the affairs and the welfare of the AMU, including the Vice Chancellor, is scared of an inquiry as nothing cognizable is to be found out against the Vice Chancellor, but, an inquiry at this crucial juncture at the behest of some vested interest who are out to pressurize and blackmail the Vice Chancellor for their ulterior motives, will prove very detrimental to the AMU which has been put on the right track and a very congenial academic atmosphere is prevailing on the campus. The examinations are being conducted on time; sessions are going on as per schedule, for the first time in the history of the university, 75 per cent attendance of the students has been ensured and the students are busy in their studies with a complete sense of security etc. Such an inquiry, if carry forward, may embolden this vested group and demoralise the VC, apart from disturbing the peaceful atmosphere at the campus.

It is this vested group elements who abstain from the Executive Council meeting, make other members to abstain, create a quorum problem, and when the adjourned meeting is held, and the agenda is executed as per rule, they complain that the VC (Chairman) has transacted business without a quorum.

The notice issued with a supersonic haste by Mr Arjun Singh, former HRD Minister, to the VC is itself illegal. The unusual exercise of the power under section 13(2A) of the AMU Act, 1920 is regrettable in view of the peripheral nature of the allegations and the questionable integrity of the main architects of the complaint. Such move at the behest of the ministry is unprecedented in the history of the AMU. It has been reliably learnt that similar allegations had been made by certain members of the EC against the VC of the Allahabad University alleging therein that the said VC had spent crores of rupees in building construction without inviting tenders, but no inquiry was ordered by the then HRD Minister, nor such an inquiry was ordered in any other central university. In an inquiry envisaged under section 13(2A) of the Act, the role of the EC comes later, but in the instant case, the VC of the AMU was ordered to get the reply approved by the EC which was palpably illegal. The allegations are against the VC personally, but he was asked to get the reply to the show cause approved by the EC, some of whose members/complainants were out to frustrate the meeting held on 3.5.2009. However, the reply was approved by the EC.

The allegations of financial irregularities against the VC lose their significance altogether in view of the report of the Principal Accountant General (Civil Audit, UP) on behalf of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India which had categorically reported that there were no financial irregularities committed by the AMU.

The community leaders who had met the Hon’ble HRD Minister in this respect in the last month are aghast as the Hon’ble Minister had assured them that no inquiry is called for and that an amicable solution will be worked out.

If the present unproductive and uncalled for inquiry, which will do a great harm to the AMU particularly at a time when its branch is being opened in Murshidabad (West Bengal) is not stopped, the community leaders have decided to meet the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and apprise them about the futility of the said inquiry.