Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Sep 17: Facing CBI inquiry, the vice-chancellor (V-C) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Prof PK Abdul Azis blamed faculty members for conspiring against him on Saturday. Presently, a team of CBI officials is camping in the AMU campus and Prof Azis has been quizzed twice.
Prof Azis claimed that his detractors were using the platform of AMU Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) for unleashing malicious campaign that ultimately denigrates both the venerable office of the vice-chancellor and the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Prof Azis is facing CBI inquiry for financial embezzlement and misusing his office for appointment. His tenure will be over on January 17, 2012 and thus the President of India who is also the Visitor of the AMU has issued directions that Prof Azis is not
entitled to take any decision which will have long term financial and administrative consequences.
Commenting on the curbs imposed on him, the vice-chancellor said that the restriction is totally illegal. "AMUTA leaders are apparently behaving like puppets of certain politicians and the MHRD. The stand taken by them is violation of the AMU Act", he added.
Prof Azis stated that in the guise of appraisal to the Visitor, blatant lies were constantly fed by the AMUTA Executive without the required mandate of the AMU larger teaching community. "Its hidden agenda will cause irreparable damage to the university and its effective functioning," he said.
On the other hand, Secretary, AMUTA, Prof S Mustafa Zaidi stated that V-C is facing a CBI enquiry. "There is nothing new in the President's order. It is applicable to all central universities on any V-C whose tenure is nearing completion," he said.
The diatribe began when V-C Prof Azis slated the Executive Council (EC) meeting on Saturday. The EC meeting was to be held in New Delhi and the agenda being to select the panel for appointment of new V-C.
However, the 27 member EC has 12 posts vacant including four members from teaching fraternity. Further two more member shot of letter to President citing their inability to attend the meeting. Prof Azis was forced to call of the meeting due to lack of quorum. "We cannot allow any such EC meeting which is headed by a tainted V-C. We approached the EC members and they withdrew," said Prof Zaidi.
"AMUTA representatives and their collaborators could feel happy that they could sabotage the democratic functioning of the Executive Council however they are collaborating with the anti-education, anti-Muslim and anti-AMU forces working in the government and outside", said V-C Prof Azis.