Ministry steps in to clear AMU mess

The HRD ministry on Friday issued a show-cause notice to Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chancellor PK Abdul Azis, putting on hold a meeting of the AMU court that was opposed by varsity stakeholders and MPs across party lines.

The HRD ministry on Friday issued a show-cause notice to Aligarh Muslim University Vice-Chancellor PK Abdul Azis, putting on hold a meeting of the AMU court that was opposed by varsity stakeholders and MPs across party lines.

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The notice, sent with President Pratibha Patil’s concurrence — asks the university to explain why the proceedings of the court meeting scheduled for December 19 should not be annulled, government sources said. The Court is the highest decision making authority of the university.

The move follows apprehensions that the court meeting would help legitimise and strengthen Azis’s position, at a time when the government is upset with the VC after AMU lied to members of a Presidential panel probing corruption allegations against the V-C.

“The V-C is going way too far. We do not wish to interfere in the work of a university, but autonomy must be accompanied with responsibility and accountability, both of which appear lacking in this case,” a source close to HRD minister Kapil Sibal said.

HT had first reported on December 10 how AMU lied to Justice AN Divecha and misled Justice BA Khan, the two members of the probe panel, effectively postponing a key meeting and delaying the probe.

Over the past week, over 130 MPs across party lines have petitioned the President and Sibal, citing Justice Divecha’s letters to argue in favour of action against Azis.