by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : The Delhi chapter of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) on Monday demanded a “time-bound” judicial probe into the incidents that happened on the varsity campus on May 2 and action against the policemen who were allegedly “complicit” in the “politically motivated attack on the university”.
The body demanded “immediate arrest” of those who tried to attack former Vice President Hamid Ansari and barged into the campus “brandishing weapons and shouting provocative slogans, thereby leading to an extremely volatile situation”.
Ansari, who is also a former Vice-Chancellor of AMU, was visiting the varsity when the incident happened.
“The AMUOBA strongly condemns the attempt to disturb peace in AMU campus on May 2 by armed miscreants who also tried to attack former Vice President Hamid Ansari. The miscreants were allegedly members of right-wing Hindu outfit,” the university alumni body said in a statement.
“A time-bound judicial enquiry is also among the foremost demands. AMUOBA also demands action against the policemen who were complicit in what appears to be a coordinated and politically motivated attack on the university. In addition, the cases against AMU students must be withdrawn,” it added.
The association said it was deeply aggrieved by the “partisan role played by the Aligarh police and the brutal lathicharge on AMU students who were protesting the police inaction”.
The association issued the statement after a resolution was passed in its meeting on Sunday here. The resolution will be submitted to the President, it said.
“Since the incident involves breach of security with regard to one of the highest dignitaries of the country, we demand a time-bound judicial inquiry into the events on AMU campus on and after “May 2,” the resolution said.
The association appreciated the support extended by several university students and teachers’ bodies and associations including Benaras Hindu University, Hyderabad University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Jadavpur University, Kolkata University and others.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Mashqoor Ahmad
Aligarh : Mashqoor Ahmad Usmani from Bihar has been elected as the next students union president of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), varsity officials said on Tuesday.
Usmani, who hails from Darbhanga, polled 9,071 votes and defeated his nearest rival Ajay Singh by 6,719 votes.
Singh is the grandson of former Uttar Pradesh minister and BJP legislator from Barauli Thakur Dalveer Singh. He got 2,353 votes. Abu Baqar stood third with 2,192 votes.
The results were announced after midnight. An official announcement will be made later in the day.
Sajjad Rathar was elected the Vice President and Mohammad Fahad bagged the secretary’s post.
A total of 18,200 students voted on Monday to elect the new leaders.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Employment, Private Jobs
Aligarh: AMU organised a festival of recruitment under Recrufest’16 on 2nd & 3rd April 2016.The event was organised by Training and Placement Office (General) in collaboration with Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). The event was mainly headed by Prof. M. Rizwan Khan, Director IQAC, Dr. S. Khurram Nisar (Joint Organising Secretary), Mr.Saad Hameed TPO, AMU(Co-ordinator& Mentor of Recrufest), Mohd Wasim Akram (Final yr. Civil Engg. student & Convenor )& Md. Mehraj Ali (Final yr. Civil Engg student &Team Leader).
RECRUFEST’16, an event for the placement of AMU students, provided them a platform of Job opportunities to take a step ahead in their career. This fest was an exposure with the companies at the national as well as at International level. Recrufest’16 became a huge success when approximately 1200 students participated in the programme and mostly got their placements.
The Inaugural Ceremony of Recrufest’16 held on 2nd April 2016 at Polytechnic Boys. Dr. Er. Talha, director, Marya Day Frozen Foods was present as the Chief Guest of this occasion. Mr. Sarwar Raza, Managing Partner of a Delhi Based Law firm – Legis Legal graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. The heads of the team, Prof. Rizwan and Mr. Saad Hameed facilitated the special guests and all the HRs of different companies with memento as a token of love and respect.
“In our days as a student of AMU, we were not privileged to have these kind of events or fests. We are happy to see these initiatives taken by AMU. I wish I too could have such event in my time, then it would have been much easier for us to grab better opportunities” said Mr. Sarwar while addressing to the audience.
Mr. Talha Chishti expressed his gratitude and affection for the university by saying “My blood is from AMU. I am honoured to be a part of this wonderful event. He also promised to provide all the necessary help and guidance to the students for their better future prospects. He thanked the University for inviting him to be the chief guest of the Event.
Prof. Rizwan Khan. Org Secretary, welcomed the Guests and the HRs participated in the Mega Job Expo.
Mr. Saad Hameed, TPO, AMU, and coordinator, Recrufest’16, speaking about the purpose of taking this initiative said, “The objective of this fest, Recrufest’16, is to provide maximum job opportunities for the students of AMU at large scale and to decrease the regional unemployment. Another purpose of this event is to promote AMU in the corporate world as well as in various other fields and open the doors for the students at an international level”.
Mr. Saad as the Coordinator of Recrufest’16 informed “The organizing team of Recrufest’16, headed by Prof Rizwan went to various halls of AMU to sensitize students about career opportunities in different fields and motivated the students for their participation”. He further added, “The students were made aware about the role of placements in different companies in their respective fields under the programme named ‘LET’S TALK CAREER’.
Dr. Khurram Nisar, joint org. Secretary, said “In every field of profession alumni of AMU acquired and continue to acquire commendable and well-reputed posts and they work extremely hard with full commitment to their jobs” while conducting the program.
Md. Mehraj Ali presented the Vote of thanks as the Team Leader of Recrufest’16 on behalf of the organizing team and whole students’ fraternity. He assured best placements to the students and thanked to women empowerment as there were 110 girls among 180 students.
Md. Mehraj Ali and Mohd. Wasim Akram spoke, “Since the students from non-technical fields have to face many difficulties for getting a job, this step is taken specially for them to grab and unleash the numbers of opportunities standing at their door”.
Companies from various sectors like IT, ITES, Banking, Finance, Manufacturing, Real estate, Education, Social Sector, Tourism, Law, etc. participated in the Mega Job Expo.
The Hrs responded very enthusiastically that in today’s era of Competitive world, a strong University- industry interface is very important. They were also of the opinion that events like these plays a very effective role to bring the corporates and prospective candidates at one single platform and these events are very important for the branding of the institution.
The students participated very energetically as they find this as an huge opportunity to come up with their talents and they find that this event changed the surrounding atmosphere of AMU into more career dedicated.
“It is a nice experience to attend this job fair. We learned many things that are required for the good jobs available” said Rifa Tarique an Engineer student.
Aiman Khan, a graduate student, expressed her views as “Recrufest’16 is my first experience and exposure to this kind of a huge platform presenting various jobs in so many companies”.
The head members, Prof. Rizwan Khan, Mr. Khurram Nisar and Mr. Saad Hameed with their main team members Mohd. Wasim Akram and Md. Mehraj Ali informed that this kind of job fairs will be conducted in future also at a bigger and more open platform with the increased number of companies taking participation”.
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Opinions
Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood ZakatIndia.org
The minority character of Aligarh Muslim University is back in the news. Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi has told the Supreme Court that, in the opinion of the HRD Ministry, AMU is not a minority institution; ‘as the executive government at the Centre, we can’t be seen as setting up a minority institution in a secular state’. Thus, even though characteristically rubbing the minority shoulders on the wrong side, a central government functionary has for once realized the importance of secularism in the Indian constitution. Another perturbing aspect, however, of the AG’s statement before the court is that instead of highlighting secularism as an asset for the wellbeing of the heterogeneous Indian society he has tried to present it to the court as a constraint forced on the minorities.
Attorney General’s amnesia
- While saying so the AG forgot so many democratic realities of India. To manage Hindu temples and endowments in the state of Tamil Nadu, for more than 50 years, there exists a separate service cadre for Hindus only (code 003). It is known as Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Service. Recruitments are made by Tamil Nadu State Public Service Commission for the post of Assistant Commissioner under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Administration Department. The recruited officers, after undergoing official training, are posted across the state, they’re accommodated in government residences and they travel in government vehicles.
- In the state of Kerala, Deputy Commissioners are directly recruited by the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) to serve under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Administration Department. The KPSC advertisement in newspapers says ‘Only persons professing the Hindu religion shall apply to the post’. In the state of Karnataka, Sections 6 and 7 of Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997 say that the Commissioner etc shall be government servants and they shall be Hindu.
- In the state of Odisha, Sections 7 and 8 of the Orissa Religious Endowments Act, 1970 say that an officer of the state government shall be the President of the Board and he shall be Hindu. In the most populated state of Uttar Pradesh, Sections 3 and 6 of Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Act say that four Secretaries to the Government of UP, one Director, the Divisional Commissioner and District Magistrate of Varanasi shall form the Executive Committee of the Board and if any of these officers is not Hindu the officer next below him who professes Hindu religion shall substitute him.
Constitutional provisions for minority uplift
- Attorney General Rohatgi also forgot before the Supreme Court that under article 15(4) of the Constitution of India the Government is empowered to make special provisions for the advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes of citizens. Under article 15(5) the Government can make special provisions, by introducing specially drafted bills for legislation, for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens. Under article 30(1) the minorities have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Under the spirit of these constitutional provisions the Parliament through the AMU Amendment Act of 1981 empowered the University to promote especially the educational and cultural advancement of Muslims in India. Through this statutory amendment the parliament neutralized the ‘anti-minority-character’ effect of the Supreme Court judgement in Aziz Pasha case of 1967.
AG’s inability to hide bias
- But the attorney general could not even decently hide the anti-Muslim bias of those who briefed him. He said in the court that the AMU is not a minority university because it has been established through an act of parliament. Going by such reasoning, one is afraid, the recruitments and special government services rendered to the Hindu temples in the above mentioned five states would need to be withdrawn and cancelled because all of these have been established through acts of legislative assemblies. Also tens of thousands of schools in India are recognized by the government and affiliated to different boards of education. Some of them are statutorily registered as minority institutions. Thus, for granting minority status, government recognition is an enabling factor.
RTE Act and minority status
- More so, under the Right to Education Act 2009 no school, other than a school established, owned or controlled by the appropriate Government or the local authority, can be established or function, without obtaining a certificate of recognition from the prescribed authority. So, as a fall out of the attorney general’s reasoning no school can be granted the minority status as all schools are recognized by the government.
AG’s attempt to obstruct basic structure
- Rohatgi also said that the ratio of the 1967 Aziz Pasha case still holds good. Is he trying to say that the parliament is incapable of undoing a view taken by the court ? That way he is trying to obstruct the basic structure of the constitution which may have far reaching consequences destabilizing the sacrosanct and strong Indian constitutional monolith. Doesn’t he need to resist from throwing the baby along with the bath water?
Supreme Court’s loaded question
- Perhaps that is why the supreme court in its astute wisdom had to ask him the loaded question: is the abrupt change in the attitude of the union government caused by the political change of guard at the centre? Again the AG looked askance while the court had to order him to transform whatever the government has to say into a duly sworn affidavit on 4 April 2016 that’s the next date of hearing.
Briefing to AG clashes with PM’s declared policy
- It seems that the AG was briefed parochially at the bureaucratic level without the latter pre-obtaining specific instructions from the political executive regarding the substance of the arguments to be made. Otherwise, this instance of the union HRD ministry is quite at variance with the way prime minister Modi has recently changed his government’s approach toward interest-less banking in India as well as dealing with the intransigent western neighbour Pakistan. One wishes there is truth therein; may be because of that Rohatgi added the rider that it is upto the university to adopt a contrary view.
Kudos to VC
- In the meanwhile the student body and staff association of the ‘varsity would do well to register their democratic agitation with the union HRD ministry. Three cheers to the vice chancellor who has already stated that the AMU’s minority character is a matter of life and death for the institution as well as the Indian Muslim community.
- A deeper analysis reveals that the whole issue boils down to reserving 125-150 seats in the university’s medical & engineering colleges and may be in MBA too. In whole of India there are thousands of institutions giving such degrees but somehow the union HRD ministry is disproportionately bogged down with these 125-150 seats in AMU.
Mishra Commission’s recipe
- The national commission headed by former supreme court judge Justice Ranganath Mishra had written in its 2008 report that if, as per judicial decisions, in the institutions established by the minorities more than 50% seats cannot be reserved for the minority candidates that leads to the remaining 50% seats virtually going to the majority community. The Commission strongly recommended that, going by that reasoning and in the interest of justice and fair play, in all those institutions that are not established by the minorities at least 15% seats must be reserved for the minority candidates.
- The AMU counsel has asked the supreme court to refer the 1967 Aziz Pasha case to a larger bench. If the 1981 amendment in the AMU Act has neutralized the ‘anti-minority-character’ effect of Aziz Pasha case then such a reference is not called for. However, if the court decides to do so then – and even otherwise during the current judicial proceedings – the above recommendation of Justice Mishra Commission needs to be strongly raised by the AMU counsels during their arguments.
Good hope from Modi – otherwise from Supreme Court
- PM Modi will hopefully once again act in the spirit of a world statesman, will intervene and benevolently restore to the AMU its pristine glory of minority status as per the dreams of its illustrious founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan; and he would give clear instructions to the HRD ministry for revising its stand taken in the court. Alternatively, the Supreme Court would restore justice to the glorious institution established by the Indian Muslims 130 years ago in 1885. For that purpose it may even refer the matter with suitable directions to the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions in the spirit of section 11(c) of the NCMEI Act, 2009.
Author is President, Zakat Foundation of India
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Corporate, Economy, News
The visiting BSE Institute team with AMU Pro-Vice Chancellor Brigadier S. Ahmad Ali
Aligarh: (India Tomorrow) A little over a week after a committee of India’s federal bank recommended opening of interest-free window in commercial banks, the Aligarh Muslim University and Bombay Stock Exchange have decided to jointly organize an international conference on interest-free banking in April this year in Mumbai. AMU and BSE took the decision at the visit of a BSE delegation to the university on Saturday.
RBI Committee on Medium Term Path for Financial Inclusion headed by Deepak Mohanty released its report on 28th Dec 2015 to increase financial inclusion in India. One major recommendation is opening interest-free windows in existing conventional banks.
A three-member delegation from Bombay Stock Exchange Institute Limited visited AMU to discuss certain issues pertaining to trade, commerce and banking.
“It was decided in the meeting that an exchange programme will be mooted between AMU and the BSE Institute and some selected programmes will be run with mutual participation of the two. It was also decided that BSE Institute would provide study material to AMU and AMU teachers will go to BSE Institute, Mumbai to take its courses,” informed Dr. Rahat Abrar, Consultant, Public Relations, AMU.
BSE Institute offers a number of short term and certificate programmes in Stock Market, Financial Modelling, Risk Management, Capital Market, Investment Banking, Islamic Finance and Capital Market, Foreign Exchange Risk management, Mutual Funds, Taxation etc.
BSE delegation was headed by Vinod Nair, Head, Academics and Product development, BSE Institute while AMU was represented by Pro-Vice Chancellor Brig. S. Ahmad Ali.
“AMU and BSE Institute have also agreed to jointly organize an International Conference on Interest-Free Banking at Mumbai in the month of April 2016,” said Dr Abrar.
The three-member BSE Institute team included Vinod Nair, Nadeem Alam, Head, International and Customised Programme and Islamic banking expert Shariq Nisar.
