Kashmiri student expelled from AMU over ‘objectionable’ post on URI attack

Shooting a pointed question, CJI TS Thakur questioned the AMU and the Central Government, “Why should a bureaucrat be brought as a Vice Chancellor?” He must be a distinguished academician with 10 years’ experience. Lt Zameer Uddin Shah has no such academic qualification. But Shah, a former deputy chief of the Indian army who was appointed as VC in 2010, holds just a post graduate degree. We are not questioning his (V-C’s) abilities.

AMU Vice-Chancellor took a “very serious view” of the issue and expelled the student, who was pursuing MSc in Organic Chemistry, after personally probing the matter, university spokesman said. But, the bench cited an earlier verdict that said all central universities would have to follow UGC regulations.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner Syed Abrar Ahmed, told the bench that not only Shah was continuing as vice-chancellor but making illegal appointments and has also allegedly transferred university funds to a private trusts. The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 26.

Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appearing for AMU, opposed the submission and said UGC Regulations were only meant for teachers in central universities and not for appointment to the post of VC which is the post of an officer. “If there are regulations and applicable to a central university then the VC has to be appointed as per the scheme that says he must be an outstanding academician”, the CJI said. Shah holds just a post graduate degree, that too from an Army college.