Latest news with #NaimaKhatoon
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Allahabad HC upholds Naima Khatoon's posting as AMU V-C
The Allahabad High Court dismissed writ petitions challenging Prof. Naima Khatoon's appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Saturday. The Division Bench comprising Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Donadi Ramesh upheld that the procedure laid down in the AMU Act, statutes, and regulations was duly followed. In one of the petitions, petitioner Prof. Mujahid Beg had alleged irregularities in the appointment process, which favoured a particular candidate. The HC acknowledged that while Prof. Khatoon's husband, Prof. Mohd. Gulrez, had chaired meetings of the Executive Council and the University Court as acting Vice-Chancellor, his role was limited and did not vitiate the multilayered, democratic process of selection. According to a press statement released by the university, the HC recognised that the final discretion to appoint the V-C was with the visitor of the University — the President of India — and no allegations of malafide were established at that level. The judgment emphasised that Prof. Khatoon's merit and qualifications were undisputed and her appointment, as approved by the highest constitutional authority, deserves respect and recognition. Prof. Khatoon made history in April 2024 by becoming the first woman appointed as the Vice-Chancellor in the university's 100-plus-year history. She described the verdict as 'not just a personal vindication' but a strong reaffirmation of institutional processes and democratic values in the higher education system. 'Let this judgment inspire confidence among all stakeholders and reaffirm our shared mission to uphold the university's legacy of knowledge, justice, and progress,' she said.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC upholds Naima Khatoon's ‘historicappointment' as AMU's 1st woman VC
Agra: Dismissing all petitions that challenged the selection process, Allahabad High Court upheld the appointment of professor Naima Khatoon as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Saturday. Khatoon, who earlier served as principal of women's college in AMU, became the first woman to hold the VC's post in the varsity's over 100-year history. HC division bench of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Donadi Ramesh found no procedural lapses, asserting the selection process adhered fully to the AMU Act, statutes and regulations. The court also emphasised the symbolic and progressive nature of her "historic appointment", calling it a "major stride for gender representation and constitutional values in academic leadership". It further recognised that the "final discretion to appoint the VC lay with the 'Visitor' of the university — the President of India, and no allegations of mala fide were established at that level". The court had reserved the verdict on April 9 after hearing arguments from counsels representing the petitioner, AMU and the central govt. The petitions were filed in late 2023 by prof Syed Afzal Murtaza Rizvi of Jamia Millia Islamia, Mujahid Beg from AMU's medicine department and retired AMU prof MU Rabbani. They had raised objections after Khatoon, wife of then-acting VC Mohd Gulrez, was "shortlisted". After HC's decision, Khatoon, an AMU alumna who earned her PhD in psychology from the varsity, said, "I've always had the highest regard and faith in our judiciary. This verdict is not just a personal vindication, but a strong reaffirmation of institutional processes and democratic values in our higher education system. Let this judgment inspire confidence among all stakeholders and reaffirm our shared mission to uphold the university's legacy of knowledge, justice and progress. " AMU proctor, Mohammad Waseem, added, "Today's judgment emphasised that prof Khatoon's merit and qualifications were undisputed, and her appointment, as approved by the highest constitutional authority of the land, deserves respect and recognition." In Nov 2023, controversy erupted after the AMU's executive council shortlisted "five eligible names". An AMU prof wrote to the President of India, claiming "the process of selecting a new AMU VC was not followed in a proper manner". The 'AMU court' then forwarded three names, including that of Khatoon, to the ministry of education and the President of India for selection of the new VC, and the matter also went to HC.
