The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Teachers Association along with several prominent varsity alumni will hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday, October 15 demanding a full-time vice-chancellor and highlighting other irregularities at the institution.
The announcement was made by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in a meeting on Saturday, September 30, reported PTI.
JAC Convenor and former AMU students' union president Azam Baig said that teachers' representatives of all leading central universities and prominent alumni of AMU will participate in the dharna.
He added that the sit-in is being held to highlight the growing crisis at AMU resulting from the undermining of all internal democratic institutions and the "violation of the rules and regulations as enshrined in the constitution of the university”.
Several prominent alumni of the institution and a few former VCs are being mobilised to approach MPs, the central education ministry, and the Visitor of the university to draw their attention to the long-term damage the varsity stands to suffer if the prevailing situation continues, added Baig.
AMU Old Boys' Association has even urged alumni in and outside the country to observe the annual Sir Syed day on October 17 as "Save AMU Day”.
Meanwhile, students of AMU have been advised to stay away from all protests as JAC is of the opinion that nothing should be done to disturb the academic career of the students.
The JAC's Saturday meeting was presided over by Baseer Ahmad Khan, former pro-vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi Open University and former president of AMU students union.
Background
Last month, two Samajwadi Party MPs had written separate letters to President Droupadi Murmu expressing their concern over the "unusual delay" in the appointment of a regular vice-chancellor for AMU, added PTI.
Initially, the tenure of former VC Tariq Mansoor, who assumed charge in May 2017, was to end in June 2022. Weeks before he was due retirement, the Centre extended his tenure by a year citing unusual circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mansoor, however, resigned in April this year, weeks before his extended tenure was to end, as he was nominated as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council by the BJP.