Aligarh: Under attack from various quarters
on issues related to varsity affairs, Aligarh Muslim
University Vice Chancellor P K Abdul Azis on Wednesday hit back at
critics saying that a `caucus` led by a former MP was
`carrying out a vilification campaign` against him.
"A caucus led by a former MP is carrying out a
vilification campaign against me," Azis told reporters here
and added that the meeting of the AMU Court scheduled to be
held on December 19 "will take place on that day".
Earlier a group MPs, who are also members of the AMU
Court, had alleged that vice-chancellor has deliberately
scheduled the meeting on December 19 when a large number of
members will be attending the plenary session of All-India
Congress Committee.
The MPs have also appealed to President Pratibha Patil,
who is a Visitor of the varsity to postpone the meeting.
"The date of the meeting of the University Court was
decided much before the announcement of the dates of the
plenary session," Azis said.
When asked about allegations made by MPs that meeting
should be held only after vacancies in electoral college are
filled up and student representatives should also be included,
he said there is no legal bar in holding meeting of the Court
in absence of student representatives.
Advising those from outside the University, including
politicians, not to "poke their noses" in the affairs of the
varsity Azis said, "Certain political lobbies are trying to
attack the University`s autonomy and meddle in the affairs."
The vice chancellor said some politicians are patronising
students who are raising "extraneous" issues.
Referring to allegations that the University authorities
were trying to put impediments in the ongoing enquiry against
him and some other senior officials on charges of financial
irregularities, Azis said, "It is totally baseless to allege
that we are trying to derail the enquiry."
To a question, on the reported move by Justice V N
Divecha, one of the two judges conducting the enquiry,
offering to resign after accusing varsity officials of not
cooperating, the VC said, "I am very sad to hear that Justice
Divecha has offered to resign but it has nothing to do with
anything from our side."
Azis added that ongoing enquiry should also cover those
persons who are trying to defame the varsity.
PTI
