In more than a century, Aligarh Muslim University Appoints Its First Female Vice-Chancellor

Image Credit: Internet

Digital Desk: With her appointment, Naima Khatoon becomes the first female vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in more than a century.On Monday, officials announced that the Ministry of Education (MoE) had recommended Khatoon's appointment, which had been authorized by President Droupadi Murmu, who was visiting the university. They further stated that authorization was also sought from the Election Commission of India (ECI) even though the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was in force.

"AMU has appointed Naomi Khatoon, the principal of the Women's College, as vice chancellor for a five-year tenure. According to a senior source, the ECI has stated that the commission has no problems from the MCC standpoint regarding the nomination of the AMU VC, provided there is no chance of political advantage from the proposal. After receiving her PhD in psychology from AMU, Khatoon started working as a lecturer in the same department in 1988. She received a promotion to professor in 2006. She remained employed there until 2014, when she was promoted to the position of Women's College principal.

Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, established in 1875, changed its name to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) with the passage of the Aligarh Muslim University Act in 1920. AMU will turn 100 years old in September 2020, making it one of India's oldest institutions of higher learning. Thus far, the university has not had a female vice chancellor.

In 1920, Begum Sultan Jahan was appointed chancellor of AMU. In that position, she remains the only female employee. Professor Mohammad Gulrez, Khatoon's spouse, was appointed as AMU's Acting Vice Chancellor last year following the resignation of Tariq Mansoor, the former VC, due to his nomination to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.

Being one of the main contenders to be selected, Khatoon caused a stir in October of last year when some university administrators claimed he had a conflict of interest. On October 30, 2023, the Executive Council (EC), which consists of 27 members and is AMU's top decision-making body, selected five out of the 20 eligible candidates for consideration. A total of thirty-six individuals applied for the VC position.

One of the 36 candidates whose names the EC did not choose, Mujahid Beg, wrote a letter to President Murmu requesting to "re-initiate the process afresh" and set aside the panel. Remarkably, the VC not only presided over the EC meeting but also cast a vote in favor of his spouse. Another setback for impartial and free elections... Because his own wife is a candidate vying for the position of vice-chancellor, the VC refrained from declaring his impartiality toward the candidates in order to allay any legitimate concerns regarding his independence and the fairness of the procedures," Beg had stated.

The EC recommended the following candidates in addition to Khatoon: M U Rabbani, a well-known cardiologist and former vice chancellor of Srinagar's Cluster University, Qayyum Husain, a biochemist, and professor Furqan Qamar of Jamia Millia Islamia University.