By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis on August 27 placed Dr. Tariq Islam, a Reader in the Department of Philosophy in Faculty of Arts, under suspension on charge of “gross misconduct” pending enquiry with immediate effect. Dr Islam has described it as shooting of the whistle blower for he had served 350 applications under Right to Information regarding financial irregularities in the university.
Giving little details about the misconduct of the teacher, Dr. Rahat Abrar, Public Relations Officer of AMU said: Dr. Tariq Islam has been placed under suspension on charge of “gross misconduct.” An enquiry has been initiated. Dr Islam shall be paid subsistence allowance during the period of his suspension as per rules of the University. Moreover, the University has ordered Dr Islam not to leave Aligarh without obtaining prior permission of the Vice Chancellor.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Dr Tariq Islam described the suspension order as violation of the principles of natural order because he was served no notice about his “misconduct” before taking this decision.
“Even till date, nothing has been communicated to me about this “gross misconduct” and I have been placed under suspension, violating the principles of natural justice. So I don’t know even till date what my gross misconducts are,” Dr Islam said.
Asked what could be the reason behind this decision, he said that the only reason that can be is that he has served several RTI notices on the university highlighting financial irregularities.
“I am a Right to Information activist. I have filed about 350 applications on the Aligarh Muslim University under RTI. Some of them are very uncomfortable for the university as they are related to the amount spent on the VC lodge (About Rs 2 crore has been spent on the lodge) and use of Rs 8 crore of employee’s provident fund,” Dr Islam added.
On his future course of action, he said he was weighing options.