May 7, 2011: Letter to VC on Student Hostel Entry and Non Cooperation in Examinations

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club A.M.U., Aligarh-202002 0571-2720011 (R); 09411802364 (M) Email: secretary_amuta@rediffmail.com

May 7, 2011

The Vice-Chancellor

A.M.U., Aligarh

Dear Sir,

  

I have received your letter D.No. 130/VC/Sectt/Lodge dated May 5, 2011 informing us about your programme for the examinations and reopening of the University as well as the subsequent press release by the University. While the AMUTA is satisfied that the University is being reopened, the notifications have fallen short of our expectations as they do not allow students entry to their hostels by May 9, 2011 as expressed in our resolution of May 5, 2011 that had personally been read out to you the same day at 3:47 P.M. in front of the Administrative Block gate. You had informed us that our request would be met and fulfilled much before May 9, 2011. However, this has not been done, so the rationality of our request is explained below: 

            Apart from the obvious immorality of keeping students out of their hostels during exams, one of the reasons for our insistence on reopening of the University immediately and allowing students back, among other things, is that the students who live in University hostels also study there, all their books and notes are in their rooms, they sit down to study in reading rooms and libraries within the campus. If we deny them the facility to study in familiar surroundings we are placing them at a disadvantage vis-à-vis other internal students, and this action is not an inadvertent corollary of something else, it is a deliberate policy to deny students of this University access to facilities they are entitled to. The recent press statements by the University that internal students shall be accommodated a day or two before the competitions in NRSC Club building (male students) and Albdullah Hall for female students, perpetuates the harassment. Those who know Aligarh know that NRSC Club is 3 km from the main campus, thus the library is far away. The club has inadequate toilet facilities and only one or two bathrooms. The students who would number about 500 will have to sleep in these halls and have food either at Shamshad Market or at Zakaria Market or the city, all at considerable distances. The Aligarh situation also has a further complexity, many of our students who are technically external (as they have passed their qualifying examination from other institutions) also require the same facilities.

Another problem which is becoming more acute and more alarming is the search being carried out by the Proctor and Police in hostels. We protest strongly at this action which is further aggravating the situation. We believe that the Police/Proctor would have specific information regarding specific places/rooms where raids are to be conducted, why harass every individual student by breaking locks of rooms and almirahs and searching without any neutral witness and/or the person himself. This is a violation of human rights and the right to privacy, it is illegal in the eyes of law and you should know better.

This method of searching also explicates that neither the Proctor nor the Police have any information, they are on a fishing expedition to see if anything can be found in any hostel to somehow back up their hollow and malicious claim of arms being stacked in University hostels. If later on the University Administration or the police claim that they found something there we shall treat it as an attempt to malign the Institution.

Another thing which needs urgent attention is the schedule announced by you for the examinations. How can a student who had to leave suddenly without his books and study materials come back and appear in the examination to be held after two days. In many faculties classes for the last two days were cancelled  because of the sine-die. Sessional tests were to be conducted and preparation leave was to be given. How can it be telescoped in two days? When will they get their Hall tickets, complete sessionals, prepare for examinations and write them. This is an additional reason why they should be allowed back in immediately.

We, therefore, urge upon you to allow students entry into their hostels immediately, latest by May 9, 2011, otherwise our stand on the non-participation in the admissions tests/examinations shall be enforced as mentioned in our General Body resolution of May 5, 2011 (copy enclosed).

Yours sincerely,

(S. Mustafa Zaidi