AMUTA Resolution on incidents of Jan 25,2012

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club, AMU, Aligarh, 202002             0571-3203520      (O);             0571-2720011       (R);            09411802364       (M) Email: secretaryamuta@gmail.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AMUTeachers

Unanimous resolution passed by the Executive Committee of the Aligarh Muslim University Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) at its emergent meeting held on Jan. 28, 2012 at 3:00 PM

            The meeting discussed and reviewed the prevailing situation in the campus in the aftermath of the violent incidents on Jan. 25, 2012. We unequivocally condemn this violence as no one should be allowed take the law in their hands. We advise the students to exercise extreme caution in raising of demands and the means adopted for their fulfillment. Raising of demands is a legitimate right but the means should also be legitimate.

            We, however, are of opinion that this is another instance where continuing inaction has led to a situation where the University Administration has not been able to anticipate the issues that have arisen. The total failure of the Proctor Office to provide proper and timely input leads to the conclusion that the only course of action available to the Proctor and his team is to resign taking moral responsibility for this failure. We would like it to be noted that the manner in which the previous Vice-Chancellor and his continuing administrative team are manipulating the situation also makes it imperative that they should either quit or be sacked. The letter posted in the name of Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis seems to be part of the continuing chain in the series of events that have culminated in the recent violent incidents. Propriety demands that all members of the previous administrative team should have resigned giving the new incumbent of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor the opportunity to build a new and cohesive team.

We, therefore, demand that the Proctor and his team should be sacked to stop further damage to the University and its working. We also demand that a time bound enquiry should be held to further unravel the chain of events of the recent unfortunate incidents.

(S. Mustafa Zaidi)

May 15, 2011: Report on Meeting of Action Committee and Intensification of Agitation

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club, AMU, Aligarh-202002 0571-3203520 (O); 09411802364 (M) 0571-2720011 (R); Email: secretary_amuta@rediffmail.com

Meeting of AMUTA Action Committee

           

May 15, 2011

A meeting of the Action Committee of AMUTA was held on May 15, 2011, to take stock of the situation and decide on the future course of action.

 The Secretary reported that as part of the resolve of AMUTA, in case the University is reopened for all students, the teachers participated in the examination duties. However, the cat and mouse game being played by the University with respect to entry of students, other than final year and research scholars, into the hostels came in for severe criticism. Taking advantage of our withdrawal of the call for nonparticipation in exams and request to our members to participate whole heartedly in the admission and examination process, the University Administration has gone back on its commitment to allow students sufficient time to prepare for their exams in their own rooms. This duplicity doesn’t auger well for the future.

   The members individually and collectively, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing hunger strike as it ended its fourth day, attracting large number of its members despite the adverse weather conditions. The members reaffirmed that we had to resort to hunger strike as part of intensification of the agitation resulting from the treatment meted out by the Vice Chancellor, who, despite three day notice, was not available in his office when around two hundred and fifty teachers went to meet him on May 11, 2011 at 11 O’clock. The Secretary had that day talked to the Vice Chancellor on the landline from his office within the hearing distance of scores of teachers. The Vice Chancellor in this conversation promised to meet the teachers the next day, May 12, 2011, a promise which has not been fulfilled till date. It was also taken note of that on May 12, 2011, the Vice Chancellor’s office kept on informing AMUTA that the he is on his way back but might be delayed because of traffic problems, and will invite us over as soon as he gets back. It was learnt that the Vice Chancellor reached his lodge late in the afternoon but did not invite AMUTA for a meeting on that day nor till date.

The Action Committee therefore has no option but to decide to intensify the agitation further, including proceeding to Delhi to meet political leaders to convince them on the cause of the agitation and demands of AMUTA.

Members of the Action Committee informed that a procession of the Aligarh Muslim University Anti Corruption Forum will start from Sir Syed’s Mazar at 10.00am to reach near the AMUTA Dharna site at 11:30 am on Monday, May 16, 2011, and hold a public meeting there, which will be followed by two of its members starting an indefinite hunger strike with the demand for removal of the Vice Chancellor from 5:00 pm. Action Committee members expressed solidarity with the cause of the Forum, and hoped that the program shall be successful.

The Action Committee decided to give a call for a meeting of members of AMUTA at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 19, 2011, to apprise them of the developments so far. Members are requested to attend.

                                                                                                           

(S.Mustafa Zaidi)

May 13, 2011: Letter to VC on Sine Die Closure and Demand for Inquiry

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club, AMU, Aligarh-202002 0571-3203520 (O); 09411802364 (M) 0571-2720011 (R); Email: secretary_amuta@rediffmail.com

May 13, 2011

The Vice  Chancellor

AMU, Aligarh

Sir,

After the recent unfortunate incidents and the sine-die closure of the University, you had announced institution of an impartial enquiry. A time bound enquiry had also been demanded by the AMUTA General Body held on May 01, 2011. However, despite twelve days having passed no enquiry is so far set up by the University and neither is there any indication that such an action is contemplated.

            The General Body of AMUTA in the meeting referred to above has demanded the removal of the Proctor forthwith because of reports of his being actively involved in the worsening of the situation with sufficient body of evidence on record.  However, we had demanded an enquiry as culpability of the parties involved in the incidents was to be established. There was and there is a need to find out the correct sequence of events which unfolded that day for which there is a need to get the call records of persons involved (we drew your attention to this in our meting on 2.5.11).

However, ignoring the principles of natural justice and enquiry, action against students has been initiated, including against the office bearers of the Students Union. Over 40 students have been suspended.  These suspensions mean that students are found prima-facie guilty, but how was the guilt established, who conducted the enquiry and how was it conducted. There are allegations that some totally innocent students who were not even at the scene of the incident have been named in FIRs and suspended, how could this be done when reportedly the hard disk of the image record was found corrupted. From all indications the Proctor was an interested party during the whole episode, his public statements in the press substantiate this suspicion. Therefore, to rely on his report without independent corroboration is against the principles of enquiry.

            There is a feeling on the campus that the University administration and you as Vice-Chancellor have no intention to institute any enquiry (this has happened in the past also) and have resorted to this method to terrorize and silence dissent of your policies by persons who are critical of your style of functioning over the last three years.    

            The Association would like to draw your attention to the following:

1.                  During the last six months there have been incidents of encouraging and pampering the students by not taking up cases of gross indiscipline committed by them, such as misbehaviour with the teachers of Sir Ziauddin Dental College regarding the marks of some students, as well as the cases of copying in Faculty of Law, Department of Geography, University Polytechnic and walkout in the Faculty of Commerce.

2.                  The Administrative Block was locked up by the students for two days, which resulted in the resignation of the then Proctor, Prof. M. Zubair Khan, and subsequent appointment of Prof. Mujahid Beg. No police help was sought during this period, which hints at a command performance.

3.                  A Provost was advised by the Proctor to accede to a totally unjust demand of not charging ‘deficit’ made by a section of students, in his presence.

4.                  The Proctor all through was working as a facilitator of the unreasonable demands made by sections of students on a number of occasions.

5.                  The Deputy Controller, Mr. S.M. Rizwanur Rahman was assaulted in his office.

No action was taken at that time on any of the incidents mentioned above; on the other hand the Vice-Chancellor notified a re-supplementary for the Dental College, which gave a clear indication of bowing to the unjust pressure of students. The Vice-Chancellor is alleged to have mentioned to a delegation of AMUTA last month that “we have to fall at the feet of students to run the University”, such a situation, if it happens, is highly condemnable.

6.                  Serving show cause notices and suspending students now, instead of immediately at the time of the incidents, without conducting a proper enquiry, hints at manipulation and scheming to get rid of students who have become inconvenient and a liability to the University administration in the present circumstances.

7.                  The violent incident at the Proctor’s office happened in the presence of the Proctor, his staff and a senior officer of the district administration. Propriety demands that the senior officer’s evidence should also be taken on record and made public, which is only possible with a thorough enquiry.

8.                  Of the students who got injured, how many were inside the Proctor’s office and how many outside and who among them was asked to come there and by whom? Only call records can provide authentic information which would again require an enquiry.

The Association would also like to remind you that, many times earlier also inquiries had been promised without the enquiries instituted or not having been completed as yet. For example, the Justice Faizanuddin Enquiry into the incident of September, 2007 could not even be started. There have been many enquiries ordered by the Executive Council which were not allowed to proceed to completion.

We would, therefore, request that at least this time all actions, barring the removal of the Proctor, should be initiated only after a proper time bound enquiry is held. 

With regards,

Sincerely yours,

(S. Mustafa Zaidi)

May 12, 2011: Note of Hony Secretary on Hunger Strike and Lack of Seriouness of VC

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

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

May 12, 2011

Note on AMUTA Activities

The AMUTA started the intensification of its movement for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor and Proctor when the President, Prof. Abdul Qaiyum and two other colleagues, Dr. M. R. Suhaib and Dr. A. A. Usmani sat on hunger strike from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. yesterday, 12.5.2011 at the Staff Club.  A large number of colleagues visited the dharna site to express their solidarity for the stand of the Association. Today, the Hony. Secretary along with Dr. N. A. Ansari and Dr. A. Khan are on hunger strike, with large number of members turning up at the site to express their support.

The Vice-Chancellor AMU, did not keep his promise made on the phone day before yesterday, 11.05.2011, to meet the teachers yesterday, 12.05.2011. The Association received phone calls from his office informing of the Vice Chancellor’s start from Delhi and the possibility of his delay and reaching Aligarh by late evening. We were to be informed on his arrival.

Our concern was to meet him along with our other colleagues, therefore, his office was asked to give a notice of at least two to three hours. We did not receive any communication after that, although, there are reports that the Vice-Chancellor returned to Aligarh by late afternoon. It appears that he has managed to avoid meeting us, which indicates his seriousness and eagerness to resolve the crisis.       

(S.Mustafa Zaidi)

May 11, 2011: Press Release Reg Hony Secretary & VC Telecon & Hunger Strike

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club, AMU, Aligarh-202002 0571-3203520 (O); 09411802364 (M) 0571-2720011 (R); Email: secretary_amuta@rediffmail.com

Press-Release (dated 11 May 2011)

A large number of teachers assembled on the call of the AMU Teachers Association at the Staff Club at 11 am on May 11, 2011 to march to the Vice-Chancellor’s office to press for our demands to remove the Proctor for his defamatory remarks vis-à-vis the university and for creating a sense of insecurity. The AMUTA has been holding successful dharna at the Staff Club for the past nine days against the declaration of the unwarranted sine die and dangerous and damaging statements made by the Proctor and the Vice-Chancellor (VC). However, when we reached the Administrative Block, we were surprised to know that the VC was away and had not given the charge of his office to any one. The officiating Registrar came out to receive our memorandum on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor.  We insisted that we had sought an appointment with the VC three days in advance through a written request and therefore we shall only talk to him or any other person designated as VC today.  We went to the VC office and after some time were able to talk to the VC through his office phone arranged by his PA.

On the phone, we protested to the VC that we have not even been extended the minimum courtesy of being informed about his being out-Station (Aligarh). We inquired from Prof. P.K.Abdul Azis as to who was the VC on the AMU campus today? He replied that he was the VC on the Campus, then we explained to him that under the Statutes of the University, the office of the VC cannot remain vacant. It was also explained to him that our demand for removal of the Proctor was based on the irresponsible activities and misleading statements issued by the Proctor. We also protested to searching of the Girls’ hostels for fire-arms by male staff which is incomprehensive in any civilized society.  We also protested against the allegations about the presence of arms in the hostels (later found completely baseless after a thorough search), then denial of such claims, accusing the students for firing incidents and then blaming the outsiders for this criminality and so on. These erroneous claims have severely damaged the image and identity of the University in addition to causing a lot of painful disturbance to students (and their parents) who were forced to vacate their rooms within 48 hours.  This has added to the stereo-typing of a particular community and the historic institution of the Aligarh Muslim University. Therefore, we demand the immediate removal of the Proctor and institution of a proper time-bound inquiry into the incidents leading to the irrational and highly unreasonable sine die declared on 30 April 2011.

We also informed the VC that his press statement about teachers not condemning the violent incidents is baseless as the first paragraph of our Resolution of May 1, 2011 ‘unequivocally condemned’ it and demanded time-bound inquiry which has not been set up by him till date.

Soon after the protest march, the Action Committee of the AMUTA decided the following programme of action:

1.       The Action Committee of the AMUTA took note of the interaction of office bearers with faculty during their visits to various Departments. A consensus has emerged on extending cooperation to holding examinations in return to the consideration of one of the demands viz. reopening of the University. Therefore, teachers are requested to participate wholeheartedly in the conduct of all admission and examination related work.

2.       Teachers shall be sitting on ‘Hunger Strike’ from tomorrow (May 12, 2011) near the VC Lodge at the AMU Campus to press for the immediate removal of the Vice Chancellor and Proctor. The hunger strike shall be observed by the AMUTA from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm every day.

3.       Delegations of teachers will be sent to the National Capital (Delhi) to meet and apprise the President of India (Visitor of the AMU), the Prime Minister, the HRD Minister, and other prominent personalities and Associations to press for the removal of the highly inefficient and irresponsible Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis and informing them that the proposed CBI inquiry shall not achieve anything until he is removed from the Campus.

S. Mustafa Zaidi

May 10, 2011: COMMENTS ON PRESS RELEASE OF UNIVERSITY DATED 10.05.2011

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALIGARH

S. Mustafa Zaidi Hony. Secretary

Teaching Staff Club, AMU, Aligarh-202002 0571-3203520 (O); 09411802364 (M) 0571-2720011 (R); Email: secretary_amuta@rediffmail.com

May 10, 2011

COMMENTS ON PRESS RELEASE OF UNIVERSITY DATED 10.05.2011

·              The said Press Release and appeal to AMUTA is based on total misrepresentation of facts and unnecessarily accuses the teachers of not condemning the violence of April 29, 2011, whereas the teachers have “unequivocally condemned” the same candidly. It seems the Vice-Chancellor doesn’t read what is sent to him and depends on his advisors and interpreters to tell him what has been duly communicated.

·              The Executive Committee of AMUTA in its meeting held on April 30, had equivocally condemned the incident; and the General Body held the next day (01.5.2011) resolved

“this emergent meeting of the General Body of AMUTA, unequivocally condemns the violent incidents over the recent past especially the last few days and demands instituting of a comprehensive two member enquiry, including the Secretary of AMUTA into the whole issue to fix responsibility and suggest means to prevent such occurrences in future. The enquiry report should be submitted within one week and should form the basis of immediate action”.

Thus, without even reading the very first part of our resolution, what is  now being alleged, displays a strange kind of visual and aural handicap among the VC’s advisors; neither they could read what was written and nor could they hear what was said in our meetings.

·              I would also like to question the merit of the VC not responding to our letter dated 08.05.2011, but instead preferring to issue a press statement.

·              In our view, all these matters could have been discussed and resolved by sitting across a table. Why make a hullabaloo and not do anything sincerely? Conversations through public statements do not solve anything; they only create further problems and degenerate into polemics.

·              The VC in the Press Release also accuses the AMUTA of not seeking action against anyone. This again is blatant falsehood as our resolution sought immediate action against the Proctor, and as quoted above, against everyone who was guilty of any kind of mischief.

·              It is a relief that the Press Release at least accepts that the teachers, through AMUTA, raise “pertinent issues”. However, as a matter of fact, VC, members of his administration, and his advisors appear to be insensitive to those “pertinent issues” consequently forcing the teachers to resort to agitational means.

S. Mustafa Zaidi

 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

REFERRED PRESS RELEASES OF AMU

ALIGARH May 10: The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. P.K. Abdul Aziz today appealed to the AMU Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) that they should extend full cooperation and more positive partnership to bring normalcy in the campus and their support is extremely essential to maintain peaceful and tranquil atmosphere so that the University may be able to conduct all the entrance tests and examinations without any disruption. This is a national endeavour in which everyone should cooperate, he added.

AMU Vice Chancellor asked the office bearers of AMUTA why they have not so far deplored the violence that occurred on April 29, 2011 in the campus. They should come forward to declare emphatically the campus should be free from outsiders and weapons of any nature. Their statement that no action should be taken against anyone may likely to aggravate further the present crisis and urges restraint at this crucial juncture of University reopening.

He said that the University has promptly addressed the pertinent issue raised by AMUTA regarding the preponement of the reopening of the University and providing all facilities to students who will be writing their regular final B.Tech. Examination as well as the admission test for B.Tech. on May 14, 2011. The final year students of all the faculties have been asked to return to their hostels on May 13, 2011 so that they can prepare without any constraints.

He urged the Association to extend positive partnership with the University administration so that fruitful resolution of the problems can become a healthy trend in the campus.

 (Dr. Rahat Abrar)

Public Relations Officer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ALIGARH May 13: The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis expressed satisfaction that the University has displayed great resilience in bouncing back and returning to normal functioning despite the clashes by rival groups of students and the consequent sine die closure of the University.

The reopening of the University in a planned and phased manner, is mainly for conducting various University examinations in a smooth and orderly manner. The B. Tech and all final year University examinations will commence from May 18 and the students of these classes are allowed hostel facilities from May 13 itself.

Prof. Azis observed that the hostel facilities for Pre-final/II Semester students will be provided from May 21 and their examinations will commence from May 23. For all other courses, hostel will be allowed from May 23 and their examinations will commence from May 25. Once these examinations were over, the students will have summer vacation and the University is slated to reopen on August 1, 2011 for the next academic session.

The University will hold its B. Tech./B. Arch. Entrance Test tomorrow in 36 centres within the AMU campus besides its 5 centres set up in Lucknow, Kolkata, Bhopal, Kozhikode and Srinagar (J&K). About twenty-seven thousand candidates are expected to write admission test within AMU campus.

The Vice Chancellor expressed his appreciation on withdrawing the call for examinations boycott by the AMU Teachers’ Association and thanked them for their offer of cooperation in the conduct of all examinations. He appealed to the teachers sitting on Dharna to call off their Relay Hunger Strike forthwith and preserve the academic ambience essential for the students to prepare well for their annual examinations. The members of the Teachers’ Association will be invited for a discussion after the B. Tech. entrance test is over, he added.

In similar veins, the Vice Chancellor appealed to the agitating student leaders not to precipitate and destroy the peaceful atmosphere and asked them to create an ambience conducive for studies of the students who are appearing for various examinations. The Vice Chancellor urged the AMU Students’ Union to exercise refrain from all actions that trigger instability in the University.

Prof. Azis felt that the claim of damage of image is erroneous. What is important is safety and security of life in the campus. The paramount responsibility of the University is to avert collectorate damage of its students and staff and in tune with this fundamental premise the university has initiated a slew of measures including sanitization of hostels.

The provosts and the proctorial staff have done a vital job with utmost sense of responsibility and duty. The provosts of girls’ halls have displayed sensitivity in carrying out physical checking. Raking up controversy on this issue is simply malicious. Resorting to Dharna and hunger strike and demanding the removal of the functionary at this crucial juncture is indiscreet and imprudent of the worst kind.

(Zeeshan Ahmad)

Assistant Public Relations Officer