AMU to Re-open on December 1st
New Delhi: The Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, Professor P.K. Abdul Azis today announced that the university will be re-opened on December 1, 2009.
The classes in the Faculty of Medicine, Unani Medicine, Engineering & Technology, Management, Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Class XII and all University maintained school from Nursery to Class X will be started on December 1, 2009. This will facilitate 3443 residential students to return to their halls and hostels. Classes for Faculty of Science, Commerce and Law will commence from December 4, 2009. Whereas the Classes in Faculty of Arts, Social Science, Theology along with XI and Diploma in Engineering will be starting from December 8, 2009.
Addressing a press conference at Press Club of India, New Delhi, Professor Azis said that arrangements will be made in all the Halls of residence to receive the students two days ahead of the date of commencement of their classes.
University’s Proctor and Dean Students’ Welfare will arrange 24 hours transportation to the students from the Bus Stand and Railway Station to their respective halls of residence. Provosts will also keep open the Dining Hall and other facilities to welcome the students and facilitate their smooth accommodation in the respective hostels.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Azis said that the University was closed on October 30, 2009 in the backdrop of a murder of a student, Mr. Shahnawaz Alam on October 25, 2009 over a motor cycle parking row outside the campus.
The decision to close down the University was taken in a Consultative Meeting after long deliberations. The Deans of the Faculties, Principals of the Colleges, Local Members of the Executive Council, Senior faculty Members and other functionaries unanimously recommended the closure of the University in order to avoid eruption of violence and police intervention. Earlier two groups of teachers were sent to persuade the students to vacate the busy Delhi-Howrah railway track blocked by them to return back to the campus. On 25th night itself soon after the dead body of Mr. Shahnawaz was brought to the Hospital the Vice Chancellor visited the Medical College Hospital and appealed to agitating students to remain calm and peaceful. He again met the agitating students at the Administrative Block gate the next day afternoon and explained the initiatives taken to address the problem. At different point of time various groups of teachers tried to negotiate a settlement and on 29th October about 150 senior teachers went to the dharna site and interacted with the students in order to persuade them to withdraw their agitation but all efforts went in vain.
Professor Azis said that the dharna, disruption of classes, highly provocative speeches, false rumours and allegations, name calling and pretentious rhetoric made by the agitating students supported by outside elements including former Student Union leaders and some political workers who visited and delivered inflammatory speeches at the Dharna site has surcharged the atmosphere and on 30th October morning University had no other option left than to declare closure in order to avert any major crisis.
Consequent to the abrupt closure of the University and in order to minimize the loss of working days, the University has declared winter vacations from November 16 to November 30, 2009.
The University has agreed to the demand made on behalf of agitating students by certain well wishers of the University that the students involved in the dharna should not be victimized. Although the students are under suspension as per the university regulations, the University assured them that no one will be victimized for participating in the current dharna. All students so exonerated will be required to submit the undertaking that they will fully observe the University’s Code of Conduct.
Considering the extremely criminalized activities of the Students’ Union leaders in collusion with outside elements during 2004-2007 in AMU, the University community has its own apprehension about sustaining a peaceful academic environment in the campus once the Union is revived. However, considering the need for a democratic platform for students, the University will examine afresh the restoration of the Students’ Union.
A High Level Committee will be appointed soon to examine the modalities of operationalising the Lyngdoh Committee Report. The Committee will be asked to submit its report within three months.
