By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: A two-member panel probing charges of financial irregularities against the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Aligarh Muslim University Prof PK Abdul Azis has slated April 5 as next date of hearing. The complainants have been directed to appear before the panel on prescribed date at India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi.
The issue originated after several Executive Council (EC) members and some prominent old boys of the institution levelled serious financial allegations against the V-C Prof Azis. In response to their complaints President, Pratibha Patil as Visitor of the university had constituted a two member panel. However, one of the members, a former Secretary in the
union government A H Jung, resigned citing noncooperation from varsity authorities. The President then constituted a fresh panel in February fixing a deadline of two months to submit its report. The new panel includes Saif Mahmood who has been appointed as amicus curiae to assist the committee comprising retired Justices Bashir Ahmed Khan of the Delhi High Court and N Divecha of the Gujarat High Court.
One of the complainant and EC member Zafaryab Jilani admitted that he had received the notice for putting his point before the panel. “The V-C had indulged in serious financial irregularities in university. It is a matter of shame for him to stoop to such level for monetary gains,” said Jilani. The main charges levelled against the V-C include purchasing expensive furniture from Kochi worth Rs 50 lakhs, misusing guest house facilities and enjoying lavish dinner daily without payment, hefty payments done by AMU towards dry fruits and other delicacies in his house, drawing TA, DA against his family members without entitlement and even misrepresenting facts in encashment of travel expenses. “One such bill has been paid where he has gone to Jamia Millia University but the route is Aligarh to Kochi his hometown then Delhi,” said Jilani. He stated that all the charges are substantiated with proof and he will present them before the committee.
On his part university spokesperson, Rahat Abrar maintained that the university is extending all support to the probe panel. “It is just a fact finding committee and V-C will come out clean from the enquiry,” he said.