In defiance of UGC policy, Jamia temporary V-C took the seat of the officiating registrar

After dismissing the previous registrar, who was also holding the interim charge, Jamia Millia Islamia University unlawfully nominated a second officiating registrar, flouting the University Act and yet another UGC directive.

Although he legally lacked the authority to name or remove someone from his position, Professor Eqbal Hussain, the acting Vice Chancellor (V-C), made the decision, particularly because the education ministry may choose a new V-C at any moment.

The Registrar of the university must have a total of fifteen years of experience, consisting of eight years as a deputy registrar and nine years as an assistant registrar or assistant professor, in accordance with UGC standards and the Jamia University Act. The officiating Registrar, Professor Nazim Hussain Jafri, was recently removed by the officiating V-C, who has no authority to remove or appoint any officer. Instead, he handed the reins to the Deputy Registrar (DR), Mohammad Hadis Lari, who was appointed to the position just six months prior.

“In exercise of the power vested in him by the Executive Council, the officiating V-C is pleased to approve the confirmation of services of Mohammad Hadis Lari as DR with effect from March 22 by reducing the remaining period of his probation as per provisions contained under section 10 (1) of the Jamia’s Ordinance 6,” states the office order dated March 26.

According to a source close to the university administration, Mohammad Lari was placed on probation when previous V-C Najma Akhtar named him as DR in August of last year. After his three-month probation is over, he will retire.

“Lari’s retirement age may be raised by an additional two years when he takes on the role of officiating Registrar. This is not how the probationary term may be overridden, according to University regulations. Additionally, Muhammad Lari has worked as an assistant registrar (AR) his whole life and is now unable to apply for the position of registrar, according to a source within the Varsity administration.

He remarked, “I had to remove Professor Nazim Jafri because his superannuation had also been extended and his functions had become illegal,” to Professor Eqbal Hussain, the acting V-C. In the meanwhile, I shortened the deputy registrar’s probationary term and handed him the responsibility.

Professor Hussain responded, “There is no such qualification needed to be appointed as the officiating Registrar,” when asked if Mohammad Lari had the necessary 15 years of experience (eight years as a DR and nine years as an AR or assistant professor) and academic qualifications to be appointed as the acting Registrar.