Resolution of General Body of AMUTA dated 6th May 2010

ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

Jamshed Siddiqui

Hony. Secretary


Teaching Staff Club

A.M.U., Aligarh-202002

0571-2700777 (R)

09897267054



May 8, 2010



Resolution passed by the General Body of Aligarh Muslim University Teachers’ Association (AMUTA) in its special meeting held on 6.5.2010 at 8:00 P.M. in the Staff Club.



Item no. 1

This meeting of the General Body of the AMUTA is of the firm view that its members and students of the University are continuously under surveillance through what has now come to be known as the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) employed over and above the existing watch and ward staff. The addition of more than seventy CCTV cameras has intensified and changed the nature of surveillance immensely. The General Body felt that this surveillance of the campus apart from creating a sense of insecurity and harassment also sends the message that the campus is a den of criminals and anti-national elements, to keep an eye on whom high tech surveillance is absolutely necessary. No other campus in the Country has such extensive surveillance. The more disturbing aspect which has come to light is that police and intelligence agencies have been a party to the decision of creating a high tech surveillance of the campus, in short of the Muslim intelligentsia, infringing on the autonomy of the University. The surveillance system is viewed with suspicion on campus as if the UPA government is a party to it. The General Body further learnt from the recent AG(UP) report that this high tech surveillance is financed through re-appropriation of University funds that could have been more gainfully employed to enhance research and academics in the University. The incidents of September of 2007 are made an excuse for such intensive surveillance while not implementing the decision of the Executive Council to constitute a single judge inquiry commission to pin the culprits.

This General Body out-rightly rejects the entire surveillance system operating on the campus and resolves that CCTV apparatus and structure and the so called LIU operating on the campus be dismantled immediately.



Item no. 2

This meeting of the General Body of the AMUTA took note of the various disciplinary proceedings pending against teachers. The General Body strongly felt that these arbitrary proceedings are conducted ignoring the law and principles of natural justice as a means of harassment of teachers. Some teachers are under suspension for several years while others are facing inquiry committees for several years. There are teachers recommended for promotion by statutory selection committees but there appointment orders are kept in abeyance on the pretext of inquiry being contemplated/ held against them in sheer violation of verdict of the Supreme Court of India (2007). The University is not willing to

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act even in cases where the inquiry reports have been submitted. Of such cases the most shocking and outrageous is the case of (Late) Dr. SR Siras. The University administration has preferred not to convene a condolence meeting for the departed soul. The University did not revoke the suspension of Dr. Siras despite the High Court judgment of 1st April 2010 staying the order of suspension. The revocation order was served on 8th April 2010, i.e., a day after the death of Dr. Siras. Further, the University has cold shelved the entire case and is stoically not making an effort to complete the inquiry in the whole episode.

The General Body demands reiterating its earlier resolutions to immediately revoke the suspension of teachers, to expedite the inquiries and issue appointment orders. The General Body will have no other choice but to adopt agitational means after the summer vacation in an effort to get justice.

The Proctor himself confessed before the General Body that he invaded the privacy of Dr. Siras, moreover by not registering FIR against so-called stingers, the attitude of the University administration is crystal clear. The General Body feels that the University administration is morally responsible for the tragic death of Dr. Siras and resolved to constitute a three member Fact Finding Committee to submit a report on the events leading to the death of Dr. Siras to be constituted by the Executive Committee.

The General Body further felt that the Public Relations Officer rushes to the press to issue statements which brings disrepute to the teaching community. The General Body in the strongest possible terms condemns this and demands that the Public Relations Officer should be restraint from rushing in this manner in future.

Arising out of discussion the General Body resolved to prepare a white paper on the present University administration and to take delegations of its senior members to meet the President of India, Prime Minister and Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA, to apprise them of the plight of the AMU community and the state of affairs on the campus.