HRD Minsitry Seeks President's Nod to Launch Inquiry Against VCs of Allahabad University & AMU

The President of India was recently approached by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar for an approval to start an inquiry against two vice-chancellors.

One of the vice-chancellors was appointed by Smriti Irani, the former HRD Minister.

The same was sent as a proposal to the Rashtrapati Bhavan by the HRD Ministry last week. The HRD minister wants to launch a probe against the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Zameeruddin Shah and Vice Chancellor of Allahabad University, L Hangloo after some cases related to financial, administrative and academic irregularities.

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Some of the reasons behind this can be the involvement of both these Vice Chancellors in recent political decisions. For instance, Shah recently opposed the decision of the Central Government of removing minority status from Aligarh Muslim University. Similarly, Hangloo recently opposed the amount of political interference in matters of Allahabad University.

In the proposal, the HRD Ministry has pointed out various irregularities in the working of both the Vice Chancellors. Some of them are listed below:

• Appointing people on the posts of OSD and sports trainer, which do not exist.
• Messing up with the finances by using Rs. 10 lakh monthly for the personal security of the V-C, and using another Rs. 70 lakh to repair the V-C’s accommodation.
• Changing and mismanaging the university’s entrance exam for various courses accounted for academic irregularities.

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Some of the allegations on Shah are the appointment of assistant professors against the vacant position of professor. Financial irregularities include transferring university money in the private account of trust named Sir Syed Educational Foundation.

Academic irregularities result in the collapse of law and order on campus. Other allegations include Shah using his power to appoint a retired brigadier as AMU’s pro-vice-chancellor despite the fact that he has never been a professor before.

No information has till now released from President Pranab Mukherjee's. When the same was asked from Hangloo, he said that he already has a word with the secretary and have not found anything like this. Also, Shah said that he also did not know about anything the same. However, he welcomes any inquiry in the institute as he does not have anything that he would like to hide.

In case the request by HRD Ministry is approved by Mr. Mukherjee, then both the universities will have to give an explanation stating why the inquiry should not be conducted. If the explanation is not considered valid, a Visitorial Inquiry will be launched by the HRD Ministry.