The petition alleges Prof Mazhar Asif’s appointment violates legal norms
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The Delhi High Court has stepped into the controversy surrounding the appointment of Prof Mazhar Asif as Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), issuing notices to the Central Government, the university, and other parties involved. The move comes in response to a petition filed by Advocate Vishal Kumar Rai, which claims that the appointment breaches key legal provisions, including the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018.
The petition argues that Prof Asif’s appointment fails to comply with Section 2 of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act and Clause 7.3 of the UGC regulations, raising questions about the legality of the selection process. Last week, issuing the notice Justice Prateek Jalan directed the Central Government, the Visitor of Jamia, Prof Asif, the search-cum-selection Committee, and the university to file their responses.
Representing the Central Government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma and Advocate Monika Arora, appearing for JMI, argued that the petition should not be entertained. They cited the earlier case of M. Ehtesham Ul Haque vs. Union of India, which dealt with similar issues regarding the appointment of a former JMI Vice-Chancellor. “The matter has already been addressed in a previous ruling,” said ASG Sharma.
However, Advocate Dr Amit George, representing Rai, countered that the petition is valid under the principle of ‘quo warranto’, which allows any citizen to challenge appointments that may violate legal norms. “The law is clear. Any citizen can raise concerns about the legality of such appointments, and this petition highlights serious issues with the process,” Dr George stated.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 16, setting the stage for a detailed examination of the allegations. The controversy has sparked a wider debate about transparency and adherence to legal norms in the appointment of senior academic officials.
Prof Asif has yet to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, students and faculty at Jamia are closely watching the developments. “This is not just about one appointment; it’s about ensuring that the rules are followed in the interest of the university’s future,” said a senior faculty member, who wished to remain anonymous.
