Shashwati Chowdhury
Published on: July 10, 2022 at 15:23 IST
The Delhi High Court on Friday said in Prof. Sabiha Hussain v. Jamia Milia Islamia, that the Jamia Millia Islamia cannot use the courts as a shield to obtain money from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
While dismissing an application by the university to direct the UGC to provide funding for the Sarojini Naidu Centre for Women Studies, a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad made the comments.
If any money is due from the UGC, the judges stated Jamia can take the appropriate legal recourse and file a new petition.
Jamia moved an application in an already pending petition which was by a professor working as director of the Sarojini Naidu Centre. Payment of the professor’s salary was sought.
The university claimed that it was unable to pay her salary because the UGC has yet to provide the aid, either through the regular budget or the “Development of Women Studies in Indian Universities” scheme.
In order to release the funds, which total close to 6 crores, it sought a directive from the court.
The Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and other University officials were asked by the Court if they were receiving their salaries. The counsel gave an affirmative response.
The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar should stop accepting their salaries and pay the teacher first, Chief Justice Sharma added, or the university can sell its properties and give the money to the professor.
The Bench further noted that during the previous hearing, Jamia had categorically stated that it would pay the petitioner Professor’s outstanding dues and that she would receive her regular monthly payments as well.