Plea In Delhi High Court Challenges Appointment Of Dr. Nazim Hussain As History Professor At Jamia Millia Islamia

The matter was listed before Justice Yogesh Khanna who has fixed it for hearing after 2 weeks. Meanwhile both the parties have been asked to file their written submissions.

The petition has been filed by one Mohammad Javed Malik, claiming to be an alunmus of Faculty of Law, JMI. He has alleged that Dr. Nazim has not a single day of teaching experience, nor did he apply for the vacant position or appeared before the Selection Committee. Nevertheless, he has been appointed to the said post in scant regard of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988 and the UGC Regulations.

It is averred that in June 2021, JMI issued an advertisement inviting applications in various departments of the University. By December 2021, several candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by the Screening Committee, none were appointed to the post of a Professor. However, in January 2022, it is alleged the Vice Chancellor unilaterally appointed Dr. Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri as a Professor in the Department of History & Culture.

A day later, the Public Relations Officer of JMI issued a Press Release stating that the Executive Council has approved the appointment of Dr. Nazim Hussain Al-Jafri, the plea adds.

The petitioner primarily prays for issuance of a writ of quo warranto declaring that Dr. Nazim's appointment is in violation of the JMI Act and the UGC Regulations, read with Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution.

In this regard, Advocate M. Sarwar, appearing for the Petitioner, urged the Court to call for entire official records pertaining Dr. Nazim's appointment.

ASG Chetan Sharma, appearing for JMI, described Dr. Nazmi's academic qualifications along with his participation in International and National symposiums. He then read a non-obstinate clause in Statute 25 (8) read with Section 11 (3) from UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018, where it is stated that the VC has the power to invite persons of particular esteem to become Professor in JMI.

The petition is filed through Advocate Iram Peerzada.

Case Title: Mohammad Javed Malik v. Jamila Millia Islamia & Ors., WP (C ) 1798/2022