By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net
After a series of suspicious appointments in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), the appointment of Public Relation Officer Omar Saleem Peerzada has also now come under the scanner.
An RTI filed by a source close to TwoCircles.net has revealed that most of the academic records of Peerzada, including mark sheets, are currently absent from his personal records.
The administration at Aligarh Muslim University had constituted a three-member committee on December 28, 2017 to “examine the issue relating to the qualification and experience certificate submitted by Omar Saleem Peerzada” at the time of his appointment as Public Relations Officer.
However, Peerzada’s appointment has not only put him under the scanner, but it has also turned the heat towards Zameeruddin Shah, the vice-chancellor in whose tenure Peerzada was appointed.
A candidate who had applied for the post of PRO told TwoCircles.net on the condition of anonymity, “There appears to be a quid pro quo. The then vice-chancellor Zameeruddin Shah was informed about the problems in the qualification of Peerzada, but he went ahead with the appointment anyway. The current administration should lodge an FIR against Shah just as it has happened with a former vice chancellor in a similar case of illegal appointment.”
As per the eligibility requirement, any person having a Masters’ degree and a five-year experience in mainstream media was eligible for the post of PRO. The RTI application demanded the details of the qualification and experience of Peerzada. The reply was shocking.
The university archive section said that mark sheets were not available in the personal file of Omar Saleem Peerzada. Only certificates (4 pages) are available which are being sent to the RTI applicant.
The RTI applicant, however, says that the reply was misleading. The university has not yet provided any document. An appeal in this regard is being filed.
Another RTI reply by administration section of AMU says only the high school certificate of Peerzada has been verified so far and found to be correct.
The three-member committee consists Prof Rahimullah Khan (retired), Prof Ibne Ahmad and Prof M Mursaleen. However, no timeframe has been given to the committee to submit the report.
But many of the aspirants and those who applied are not satisfied with the formation of the committee. Another applicant for the post of PRO told TwoCircles.net, “This committee is an eyewash. The committee is unlikely to give any adverse report despite being an open and shut case. The matter will ultimately go to court. We are just waiting for the report to come.”
However, while talking to TwoCircles.net, Omar Saleem Peerzada tried to debunk all the claims saying that the issue came to his knowledge when this reporter called him. He further said, “My documents are already with the administration. If a committee has been constituted to look into my appointment, I am not aware of that until now.”
Peerzada, who said that the RTI cannot be used for news purposes, told TwoCircles.net that he will visit all the papers and facts related to the matter and revert with a suitable response. The story shall be updated if TwoCircles.net receives such a response from Peerzada.