JMI professor appointed without required qualification and in violation of selection procedure: UGC to HC

UGC in q written submissions which it has sought to place on record before the court in a plea challenging the appointment of Dr Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri. Now, the HC has sought response from the varsity on UGC's claim.

JMI professor appointed without required qualification and in violation of selection procedure: UGC to HC

The University Grants Commission has informed the Delhi High Court that a professor in the Department of History and Culture at the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI),  whose appointment is under challenge, was hired by the University despite him not having all the required qualifications and in violation of the selection procedure. 

UGC in written submissions which it has sought to place on record before the court in a plea challenging the appointment of Dr Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri. Now, the HC has sought response from the varsity on UGC's claim.

“You file a short reply to the application,” a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said while listing the matter for further hearing on August 30.

Earlier, the HC had reserved its order on an appeal that was filed challenging a single judge's decision dismissing the petition challenging the appointment of the professor. In its written submissions, the UGC's counsel said "he has been provided with instructions which also highlight the mandatory nature of the UGC Regulations of 2018 and that the appointment in question had to be in compliance with these regulations."

The UGC said "the JMI appointed the professor in violation of the UGC (Minimum Qualification for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures of the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018. In the present case, the university published an advertisement on June 1, 2021 for teaching positions in various departments and the screening committee shortlisted the candidates for interview for the post of professor, but the selection committee found none suitable. Thus, the university aborted the entire process on the basis of the findings of the selection committee. However, on January 20, 2022 the vice chancellor of the university unilaterally appointed Dr Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri to the post of professor."

The UGC said" in view of this, the appointment made by the Executive Council of the university in respect of Dr Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri as a professor in the Department of History and Culture, without fulfilling the required qualification and selection procedure, is clearly in violation of the UGC Regulations of 2018. It is humbly submitted that his appointment should be set aside, being an irregular appointment.”

The UGC further added that the UGC regulations are mandatory in nature and cannot be overlooked at any stage. It noted that all universities, institutions and colleges have been advised to strictly comply with them. 

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