NEW DELHI—25 May’ 2024: In a significant development, Prof. Mohammad Shakeel has been appointed as the officiating Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), following a Delhi High Court ruling that deemed the appointment of Prof. Eqbal Hussain as officiating VC illegal.
The Delhi High Court’s decision came in response to writ petitions filed by Md Shami Ahmad Ansari and Mohd Anwar Khan. The petitioners challenged the legality of Prof. Hussain’s appointments, citing violations of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988, and non-compliance with University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations of 2018.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who presided over the case, ruled that Prof. Hussain’s appointments as Pro-Vice Chancellor in September 2023 and subsequently as Officiating VC in November 2023 were “contrary to law” and thus, invalid. The court instructed that a regular VC must be appointed within 30 days.
Prof. Shakeel, a senior faculty member with over three decades at JMI, has held key administrative roles such as Dean, Controller of Examinations, and Head of the Civil Engineering Department. He will serve as the officiating VC until a regular appointment is made.
The Controversy
The controversy began in September 2023 when then VC Prof. Najma Akhtar appointed Prof. Eqbal Hussain as Pro-Vice Chancellor without the approval of the Executive Council, the body authorized to make such appointments. In November 2023, Prof. Akhtar, nearing the end of her tenure, designated Prof. Hussain as Officiating VC, a decision made under Statute 2(6) of the JMI Act.
Petitioners argued these appointments violated statutory provisions and UGC regulations. They contended that as a centrally funded university, JMI must adhere to these regulations.
Court’s Findings
The court identified several procedural irregularities in Prof. Hussain’s appointment process. Justice Gedela noted the absence of Executive Council approval for the Pro-Vice Chancellor position and questioned the lack of timely action to appoint a new VC as Prof. Akhtar’s tenure expired. The judge emphasized the importance of maintaining transparency and adhering to legal statutes in such significant administrative decisions.
The ruling mandates the Visitor of JMI, the President of India, to initiate the appointment process for a new VC within two weeks, with the goal of completing it within 30 days.
Moving Forward
The decision is seen as a victory for transparency and adherence to statutory norms in higher education. The JMI community is now looking forward to the swift appointment of a new regular VC to ensure administrative stability and continuity.
