The recent appointment of Ali Farhan Gulrez, son of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon, as an assistant professor in the university’s department of law has sparked a controversy after complaints were submitted to the President, who is the visitor to the university, alleging serious violations of guidelines governing the recruitment of a close relative of the head of the institution. Copies of the representations were sent to the Union ministry of education.
However, the AMU public relations office has denied all allegations, asserting that the appointment under the Dr BR Ambedkar Chair of the university was made strictly in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, and prescribed procedures. Ali Farhan Gulrez was teaching at Manipal University prior to his appointment at AMU. The guidelines require that when such a relative applies, the head of institution needs to declare the relationship in advance and recuse themselves from the recruitment process. The university officials claimed that the norms, as laid down by the ministry of education, were not binding on them. Efforts were made to obtain the VC’s version, but calls and a message went unanswered.
He complained that university conducted the selection committee on June 24 and the appointment of the VC’s son was recommended. The appointment letter was issued on July 16. The appointment has also led to resentment among a section of AMU faculty members, who alleged the recruitment violates guidelines issued in 2018 by the ministry of education (then known as the ministry of human resource development) regarding recruitment involving the close relative of a VC or other head of the institution.
the provision for two external committee members by the ministry of education was not followed,” Hasan said Although the VC recused (herself) from the selection process. “The university stated that the recruitment was governed by Ambedkar Foundation and the ministry of social justice and empowerment and thus the guidelines of 2018 were not complied with, which is incorrect as a plea,” he alleged.
“I filed my representations twice before the selection process was completed to get it stopped but the AMU administration turned a deaf ear and went forward, proving the apprehensions raised by me to be correct.
Circulated via an official letter dated February 1, 2019, even recusal will not be sufficient in such cases of relatives’ appointment, according to the 2018 guidelines. The ministry should provide two additional experts to the selection committee, the guidelines stated.
To avoid such a situation and to communicate the message that selection was transparent, in all such cases, the institute should inform the ministry well in advance, according to the guidelines.
