By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter
Aligarh: In a week, Aligarh Muslim University is all set to get a new Public Relations Officer (PRO), but this appointment is likely to become controversial, as sources claim that the Vice Chancellor Lt Gen. (Retd) Zameeruddin Shah is adamant about appointing a candidate who does not possess the basic eligibility criterion.
As per the rules, a PRO should have at least five years of experience in any print or electronic media or worked as an assistant PRO for five years. This is a mandatory qualification without which a candidate cannot even be shortlisted for the interview. But, insiders say a new PRO is going to be appointed with not even a single day of experience in the media or public relations.
The violation is not just about the experience. The MBA degree, which the candidate claims to have obtained, is also in question. Sources privy to the documents told this news portal that this candidate got the management degree from a university based in Sikkim. Earlier, former registrar Shahrukh Shamshad got his MBA degree from the same university. One of the reasons for his sacking was also his suspicious degree. A source said: “This PRO candidate has also obtained his MBA degree from the same university and in the same year making it suspicious. It is difficult to ascertain what the quid pro quo must have been between the VC and the candidate.”
The written test and interview for the post of PRO was conducted on August 12 and 13. The selection committee, according to sources, has given approval for the appointment of the ineligible candidate. The notification will be released within a week.
A senior official in the administration said “It is unusual for a Vice Chancellor to show interest in appointments from very small posts to the top.”
There seems to be a deliberate attempt to make illegal appointments in AMU in the recent past.
Earlier this month, an applicant with 16 years of experience in the mainstream media wrote a letter to the Vice Chancellor registering his protest. He withdrew himself from the selection process because of the short listing of the ineligible candidate. Twocircles.net is in the possession of this letter. The candidate informed the Vice Chancellor about the illegalities committed in the selection of the PRO.
This did not deter Zameeruddin Shah. He not only allowed the unqualified candidate to appear for the test and interview but also helped him get selected.
Insiders told Twocircles.net that the selection committee was divided on the appointment of this candidate but the Vice Chancellor voted in his favour.
In the past, the appointment of various teaching posts in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College has been put on hold. Vice Chancellor Shah was forced to stay the appointments after a representation was given to him by some candidates alleging blatant favouritism and violation of norms in the selection procedure.
The interviews to the various posts in medical college were held last month and earlier this month.
This is not the first time that illegalities have been committed in the most blatant manner. Just a week ago, Allahabad high court stayed the appointment of three assistant finance officers. Through an RTI query, it was revealed that those selected for the post had scored much less marks than those who were rejected. While staying the appointment, the high court passed adverse observations on the functioning of the university. Earlier, this month the Kerala High Court quashed the appointment of the director of Mallapuram centre. The court observed that the appointment was made without proper selection committee. The Kerala High Court had also quashed an appointment of Assistant Professor in law at AMU Centre Malappuram. Although the judgment was pronounced on July 7, 2016, she continues to teach there and draw a salary, even though her appeal was dismissed by the division bench on August 16.
The controversy over the appointment of the new PRO comes at a time when AMU is fighting a legal battle of minority character in the Supreme Court.
When contacted by Twocircles.net, the current public relations officer of Aligarh Muslim University, Dr Rahat Abrar, refused to comment on the matter or answer any of our questions.