By Tariq Hasan for TwoCircles.net
The newly-appointed Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Prof. Tariq Mansoor has, in his first week in office, taken the first step in repairing the tenuous relationship which had prevailed between the Aligarh Muslim University Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) and the University authorities during the tenure of his predecessor Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah.
Within a couple of days of taking over the charge as the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mansoor revoked the suspension and consequent pre-mature retirement of the Secretary of the AMUTA, Mr. S. Mustafa Zaidi who had been languishing under suspension for more than one and a half years now.
The AMUTA had been on a collision course with General Shah for a greater part of his tenure over a number of internal issues mainly related to appointments, promotions and alleged irregularities in admissions. Gen. Shah and the teachers’ body had been at loggerheads primarily because Gen. Shah had, because of his military background, adopted a policy of “perform or perish” towards teachers. His focus on discipline led to intermittent incidents of friction with teachers who view such intrusions as authoritarian and autocratic. It is obvious that the new incumbent does not wish to be burdened by this part of the baggage left by his predecessor.
The new Vice Chancellor has also restored some financial restraints imposed on AMUTA by his predecessor pertaining to monthly funding of AMUTA through direct deductions from teachers’ salaries.
Welcoming these steps, the Secretary of AMUTA said that democratic rights of teachers are sacrosanct and Professor Mansoor has begun on the right note. Zaidi also announced that the elections to different posts of AMUTA which were due next month have been postponed and will now be held immediately after the University reopens after the vacations because a large number of teachers will be leaving town immediately after vacation starts in first week of June.
By extending an olive branch to teachers, the Vice Chancellor has paved the way for cordial relations with teachers, a step which could help him in charting a course for facing the no-doubt formidable challenges both internal and external, which the University is likely to face in the months ahead. The real test of the administrative acumen of the new head of the institution would, however, be decided by his handling of student-related issues, something which most of his predecessors found challenging.
According to AMU sources, while addressing his first meeting with senior faculty members, Prof. Tariq Mansoor made it clear that he would not hesitate to take tough steps for maintaining discipline at the campus. He said that he would follow the principle of ‘one man, one post’. He has also announced that very soon, the University would opt for the five-day week, a move which has been widely hailed by both the stduents and the teachers.
To the credit of his immediate predecessor, Gen. Shah, his handling of student affairs was by and large commendable, a fact which was reflected in the remarkable achievements that during his entire tenure the University was not closed for a single day because of any law and order related issue.
The new VC has also chosen to revoke the order of Gen Shah denying permission to the Secretary of Students’ Union Nabeel Usmani to appear for final examination on the ground that his attendance was short by a whopping 68 percent over the mandatory 75 percent.
Using his discretionary powers the Vice Chancellor has given permission to the union leader whose attendance was just about 8 percent.
A number of senior faculty members have, however, privately expressed reservation on the long-term fall out of such concessions to students’ leader. They fear that such a concession raises the possibility of opening the floodgates to other similar concessions which are frequently raised from time to time by elected students’ representatives.
A prominent student activist, Sharjeel Usmani has criticized this decision and has prescribed it as unfair to other students. He is allegedly attacked and beaten by Nabeel Usmani for the critical remarks.