Deepali Kalia-
Published on August 04, 2021 at 12:04 PM
Delhi High Court had issued a notice in a plea that challenged the appointment of Dr. Najma Akhtar to the seat of Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
A Division Bench comprising Justice Talwant Singh and Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued the notice while hearing an appeal against an order by a Single Judge Bench, which had rejected the writ petition that challenged Akhtar’s appointment.
The Single Judge Bench had noted that while making the appointment of Najma Akhtar, the petitioner was unable to show flouting of any express provisions of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations or the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988.
Responses of Najma Akhtar, the Centre, University Grants Commission, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Central Vigilance Commission have been sought by the Court and the matter has been listed for further hearing on 22nd September.
M. Ehtesham-ul-Haque, alumni of the Faculty of Law, JMI University filed the appeal stating that the Single Judge Bench didn’t acknowledge the process that was followed by the Search Committee and that the same appeared to have “Delegated critical and fundamental aspect of gauging the ‘suitability’ and ‘eligibility’ of a candidate vis-a-vis Vigilance Clearance available with the said candidate.”
Advocate Mobashshir Sarwar appeared for the appellant and brought the issue of the composition of the Search-cum-Selection Committee to the light. He stated that the committee must consist of persons of eminence in the area of higher education and Justice (Retd.) M.S.A. Siddiqui did not fit the requirements of the regulation which UGC framed in 2018.
Further, Advocate Sarwar also submitted that the Selection Committee needed to give reasons for Akhtar’s appointment and the Ministry of Human Resource Development had no role to recommend persons to be included in Selection Committee.
ASG Vikramjeet Banerjee, who was appearing for Centre and JMI, on the other hand, stated that Justice (Retd.) Siddiqui was suitable to be part of the Selection committee given his prior experience as Chairperson of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institution.
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