In a setback to Jamia Millia Islamia University Vice-Chancellor Mushirul Hasan, the National Commission of Minority Educational Institution has said his contention of varsity not being a minority establishment 'does not appear to be true'.
The Commission asked the renowned historian to reconcile the 'apparent inconsistency' in the position taken by Hasan and the stand of the 86-year-old institution in this regard.
"The contention of the respondent (Hasan) that the said University is not a minority educational institution does not appear to be true," the Commission headed by Justice M S A Siddique said.
The observation was made during a hearing on the petition filed by Jamia Old Boys Association seeking disciplinary action against the Vice Chancellor and varsity Registrar S M Afzal for allegedly diluting the minority status of their alma mater.
The former students have alleged that Hasan and Afzal were 'intentionally' depriving Muslim students in Jamia of their educational rights for 'petty gains' by allowing a 27 percent quota for OBCs in line with the recently enacted Education Bill.
Strongly criticising the Vice Chancellor for his 'diametrically opposite' positions on the issue, the Commission noted that a resolution unanimously passed by the majlis-i-muntazimah (executive council) of Jamia under the chairmanship of Hasan himself on May 9, 1997 said that the University should be declared a minority educational institution.
In another application filed by the Jamia Teachers Association seeking that authorities should be restrained from implementing the 27 per cent OBC quota in the university till the pendency of the case relating to the minority status, the Commission issued notice to the Vice Chancellor and listed the matter on January 10 next year.
Meanwhile, Jamia Teachers Association, Administrative Staff Association, School Teachers Association and Old Boys Association have sent a joint representation to President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi seeking their intervention in the issue.
"The present vice chancellor's move to implement the OBC quota in Jamia when the Education Bill is not applicable on a minority educational institution has created strong resentment and anger in Jamia in particular and Muslim masses in general," it said.
The memorandum also urged the President and prime minister to help clear the ambiguity 'created by the present vice chancellor with regard to the minority status of Jamia.'
