Notice to government on plea against Aligarh varsity head

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Tuesday issued notice to the central government on a plea alleging non-enforcement of the government's order restraining Aligarh Muslim university Vice Chancellor P.K. Abdul Azis from taking policy decisions after a CBI inquiry was ordered against him for alleged financial lapses.

Issuing notices to the human resource development ministry, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the University Grants Commission (UGC), the AMU and Azis, Justice M.L. Mehta sought their replies by Jan 11, 2012.

Justice Mehta also stayed a meeting of the university's executive council, scheduled to be held earlier in the day under the supervision of Azis, for selection of five names for a successor to Azis who retires Jan 17, 2012.

The court was hearing a petition filed by convener of the AMU Anti-Corruption Forum and university's Associate Professor Madihur Rehman Suhaib.

The plea sought a court direction to the central government for action against Azis for defying the ministry's order restraining him from taking administrative or policy decisions.

It said the ministry Aug 10 issued a notification restraining Azis from taking any administrative or policy decision.

"Showing complete disregard to ministry's notification, Azis continued to take administrative and financial decisions," the lawyer said.

The petitioner sought a status report detailing the inquiry and action taken against Azis on the allegations levelled against him by members of the executive council.

"Extremely grave charges of financial and administrative irregularities, were levelled against the VC (vice chancellor)," said the petitioner's counsel R.M. Tufail.

"He (Azis) has the dubious distinction of being the only VC in the glorious history of the AMU against whom charges of extreme grave financial irregularities were levelled by none other than the eight honourable members of the executive council of the university," the petition said.

Azis faced charges of financial irregularities even during his tenure as VC of Cochin University of Science and Technology, before joining the AMU, it said.

Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

'PM, Group C employees may be brought under Lokpal ambit'

Keen to silence criticism by the opposition and Team Anna over Lokpal, the government may accept the demand for including the prime minister within its ambit with some conditions  »

A protest against Team Anna goes unheeded

Don't be rigid on Jan Lokpal bill, Bardhan tells civil society

All-party meeting called on Lokpal as Hazare targets Congress

  Most Read

The Supreme Court Monday sought a clarification from the central and state governments on whether a Lokpal at the centre or the Lokayukta in the states would have a bearing  »

  News Pick

Picture of the Day

The main pavilion at Kingsway Camp in 1911 erected for the former British royalty for the coronation durbar. Three days after the coronation durbar, the foundation of the new city was laid Dec 15, 1911. The city was named New Delhi in 1927 and was formally inaugurated Feb 13, 1931.