The appointment of Jamia Millia as interim VC has been annulled

NEW DELHI: Six months after a group of senior professors of Jamia Millia Islamia University urged the administration to withdraw the “erroneous” order regarding appointment of deputy vice-chancellor (VC), the Delhi High Court on Wednesday quashed the appointment of Professor Eqbal Hussain as acting VC of the university with effect immediate.

The court said that since Professor Hussain had not been appointed in accordance with the statute, his continuation as vice-chancellor in his capacity as acting VC was not permissible.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, however, ordered to ensure that the academic and administrative machinery of the university does not suffer or come to a complete halt, stating that new appointment as acting VC should be made within a week.

The court also asked the ‘Visitor’, the President of India, to order the initiation of the process of appointing a permanent VC in the meantime.

The court allowed the plea challenging Hussain’s appointment as Pro VC and then acting VC on the grounds of violation of the statute, regulations and provisions of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act. The court further said there was no explanation as to why the office’s order appointing Hussain as Pro VC was not submitted to the University’s Executive Council, the appointing authority, for its approval and confirmation.

Jamia gets a new Officiating VC

Meanwhile, soon after the Supreme Court’s ruling, Jamia Millia Islamia University issued an official statement announcing that Professor Mohammad Shakeel of the Department of Civil Engineering, currently the most senior faculty in the university, has taken charge of the VC office, Jamia Millia Islamia as acting VC from May 22 2024 by the time a regular VC takes office.

New Acting Secretary VC Shakeel has appointed Nasim Haider, Deputy Secretary-I, as Official Secretary Jamia with immediate effect until further orders, relieving Mohammad Hadith Lahiri, appointed as Official Secretary on March 28, 2024, from his post.

On September 14, 2023, then VC Professor Najma Akhtar appointed Hussain as Jamia Pro VC. Subsequently, after Akhtar’s retirement on November 12, 2023, the Office of the Secretary issued another notification for Hussain to assume duties as VC.

As per the Jamia Act, the term of office of Naib Shaikh ul Jamii (Pro VC Office) shall be decided by the Executive Council but in no case shall it exceed five years or until the term of office of the VC expires and he shall be eligible for re-appointment. Only if the position of VC becomes vacant or if he is unable to perform his duties will the Pro VC act as Acting VC and will be designated as Acting VC until another person assumes the office.

“Nomination not approved by the Executive Council”

The petitioners alleged that both the appointments were in violation of the provisions of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act and regulations issued by the UGC. The court observed that as per the procedure prescribed in the laws governing Jamia, Hussain’s name, as the candidate recommended by the then VC for the post of Pro VC, should have been presented to the Executive Council for approval before his appointment. “It is absolutely clear that the mandate contained in Art. 4 of the University Statute has not been fulfilled,” the court said.