The Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis today announced that the university will be re-opened on December 1, 2009.
The classes in the Faculty of Medicine, Unani Medicine, Engineering & Technology, Management, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Class XII and all University maintained school from Nursery to Class X will be started on December 1, 2009. This will facilitate 3443 residential students to return to their halls and hostels. Classes for Faculty of Science, Commerce and Law will commence from December 4, 2009. Whereas the Classes in Faculty of Arts, Social Science, Theology along with XI and Diploma in Engineering will be starting from December 8, 2009.
Addressing a press conference at Press Club of India, New Delhi, Professor Azis said that arrangements will be made in all the Halls of residence to receive the students two days ahead of the date of commencement of their classes.
University’s Proctor and Dean Students’ Welfare will arrange 24 hours transportation to the students from the Bus Stand and Railway Station to their respective halls of residence. Provosts will also keep open the Dining Hall and other facilities to welcome the students and facilitate their smooth accommodation in the respective hostels.
Backdrop of the agitation: Vice Chancellor, Professor Azis said that the University was closed on October 30, 2009 in the backdrop of a murder of a student, Mr. Shahnawaz Alam on October 25, 2009 over a motor cycle parking row outside the campus.
The decision to close down the University was taken in a Consultative Meeting after long deliberations. The Deans of the Faculties, Principals of the Colleges, Local Members of the Executive Council, Senior faculty Members and other functionaries unanimously recommended the closure of the University in order to avoid eruption of violence and police intervention. Earlier two groups of teachers were sent to persuade the students to vacate the busy Delhi-Howrah railway track blocked by them to return back to the campus. On 25th night itself soon after the dead body of Mr. Shahnawaz was brought to the Hospital the Vice Chancellor visited the Medical College Hospital and appealed to agitating students to remain calm and peaceful. He again met the agitating students at the Administrative Block gate the next day afternoon and explained the initiatives taken to address the problem. At different point of time various groups of teachers tried to negotiate a settlement and on 29th October about 150 senior teachers went to the dharna site and interacted with the students in order to persuade them to withdraw their agitation but all efforts went in vain.
Professor Azis said that the dharna, disruption of classes, highly provocative speeches, false rumours and allegations, name calling and pretentious rhetoric made by the agitating students supported by outside elements including former Student Union leaders and some political workers who visited and delivered inflammatory speeches at the Dharna site has surcharged the atmosphere and on 30th October morning University had no other option left than to declare closure in order to avert any major crisis.
Winter Vacation: Consequent to the abrupt closure of the University and in order to minimize the loss of working days, the University has declared winter vacations from November 16 to November 30, 2009.
Disciplinary Action: The University has agreed to the demand made on behalf of agitating students by certain well wishers of the University that the students involved in the dharna should not be victimized. Although the students are under suspension as per the university regulations, the University assured them that no one will be victimized for participating in the current dharna. All students so exonerated will be required to submit the undertaking that they will fully observe the University’s Code of Conduct.
Restoration of AMU Students’ Union: Considering the extremely criminalized activities of the Students’ Union leaders in collusion with outside elements during 2004-2007 in AMU, the University community has its own apprehension about sustaining a peaceful academic environment in the campus once the Union is revived. However, considering the need for a democratic platform for students, the University will examine afresh the restoration of the Students’ Union.
A High Level Committee will be appointed soon to examine the modalities of operationalising the Lyngdoh Committee Report. The Committee will be asked to submit its report within three months.
Grievance Redressal: The University already has a representative body called ‘Students’ Grievance Redressal Committee’. This Committee consists of toppers (boys and girls) from each course. The Committee at the Departmental level also consists of the Chairman, a senior most Professor, a senior most Reader and senior most lecturer. This Committee meets regularly in the Department and grievances raised by the students are addressed at this level.
The Vice Chancellor holds University level Grievance Redressal Committee two to three times per year. This year, Vice Chancellor has held a meeting of Students’ Redressal Committee for nine hours.
All grievances related to halls of Residence and the various Department of Studies were immediately followed up.
In the context of the present situation, the Deans’ Committee has gone to the issues raised by students and addressed them on a priority basis. Accordingly, the canteen facilities have been extended to 12 O’clock in the night in the Halls. Common facilities for heaters and iron boxes will be provided in all the Halls of residence.
Baseless Rumours: During the last two years, the University administration has not suspended or rusticated any student for violation of code of conduct rules. The propaganda that hundreds of students have been suspended by the University is totally baseless and designed to create ill will towards University authorities by some individuals and others whose design is political. It is an attempt to malign the University. The tranquil and peaceful atmosphere was vitiated by rumour mongering and hate-mails issued by a few students sitting on dharna. University has refuted all the allegations. The allegation that the University has collected several lakhs of rupees as fine is a blatant lie to mislead students and the general public. The present Hall administration is only trying to establish the rule of law and in accordance with the already existing rules imposing fines as a means of reform rather than vengeance. In the current academic year out of 11000 plus students only 29 students in all the 18 Halls of residence were fined.
The propaganda that the Provosts of various Halls of residence have taken very harsh and dictatorial action on a large number of students living in various halls is also baseless. It is pointed out that out of nearly 11000 students living in various Halls, only 14 students have been shifted to NRSC for gross violation of code of conduct rules during the current academic session.
Dharna at Jantar Mantar, Delhi: The agitating students do not have the support of the AMU students. Some agitating students were misled and taken to Delhi by vested interest groups and this act of shifting of dharna has been viewed by University community as a step devoid of any logic that ultimately tarnish the image of the alma mater.
Peaceful and tranquil atmosphere to be sustained: The University wants to move in a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The University feels concerned that the innocent boys are misled by the vested interests and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Azis appealed to everyone to allow the University to work as a centre of excellence rather than converting into a political battle field. Everyone should remember that it is an institution of national importance of the country and the country has great hopes in the contributions the AMU is going to make in the coming years.
Achievements during the last two years: The University was brought back on the academic track after the turmoil of 2007 with the relentless efforts of the University community. Some of the landmark achievements were:
· AMU has ranked as one of the top ten Indian Universities in scientific research publication in the country.
· Information Communication Technology (ICT) was raised from 0.5 mbps to 144 mbps and each department of study, Halls of residence and Colleges have been provided with computers and internet connectivity.
· A Digital Resource Centre has been established in the Maulana Azad Library enabling access to online catalogue.
· Five Special Centres of AMU in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Kerala have been proposed at a cost of Rs. 2000 crores. The Government of West Bengal, Kerala and Bihar have already come up with the required land. The Govt. of India has sanctioned Rs. 25 Crore each for the West Bengal and Kerala Centre. A committee is preparing detail blue print.
· The upgradation of J N Medical College to the level of an institute of Medical Sciences at an estimated cost of Rs. 150 Crore is in the process of advance stage
· Two new Halls of residence have been inaugurated.
· Astroturf has been provided with a cost of Rs. 4 Crore to AMU to produce better hockey players.
· 45 students were admitted to IIT's in 2009; 4 students selected for Fulbright Fellowship.
· 25 students were selected in Judicial services.
· A chaotic and criminal campus brought back to normal functioning.
· Rule of law established.
· Modern security system is underway to improve the security in the campus.
· Building contracts given to CPWD to remove middlemen and brokers.
· Government of India rules strictly complied with
· Hostels - all illegal occupants were removed; room allotted to bonafide students.
· Issued ID cards to all students and staff
· An atmosphere of academic rejuvenation created - 391 Ph.D's in 2008-09.
· UGC Grant of Rs. 185 Crores for XI Plan was on all time record for the University.
· Participatory and academic-centred management by involving active and eminent teachers.
· MoUs with Foreign Universities in USA, Iran, Australia, Muscat; students getting foreign scholarships.
· Sir Syed Ahmad Khan International Award instituted; Prize money: Rs. 5 lakhs.
· Admission tests extended to different states to expand the national character of AMU.
· Setting up of Students Grievance Redressal Committees involving the best students of each class; Multi-tier consultations at different levels.
· Admission tests made more transparent; OMR Sheets returned to candidates; largest number of candidates applied in 2009; peaceful campus is cited as the main reason.
· Several new courses launched: Islamic Banking and Finance, Nanotechnology, Biodiversity Management, Remote Sensing and Ecology Management etc.
