Jamia Millia Islamia University has selected 30 names for a V-C role; interviews are scheduled for February 26 and 27

For the position of Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University, which has been filled by an acting V-C for more than three months, the Education Ministry has selected thirty candidates. Eleven of the selected applicants are apparently from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), while five are supposedly from Jamia itself. On February 26 and 27, the applicants will participate in group discussions before being interviewed.

Following the interview, a final list of three applicants will be created and sent to the minister of education in order to choose who would be the institution’s possible nominee. According to sources, the ministry typically shortlists 20 candidates for a position, but this time, 30 candidates have made the cut.

Professors Dr. Ibraheem and Seemi Farhat Bashir from the Department of Biosciences, who has also served as the dean of students, Professor Nuzhat Parveen Khan, a professor and former dean at the Jamia Faculty of Law, Professor Majid Jameel from the Electrical Engineering Department, and Professor Eqbal Hussain from the Law Faculty are the five candidates from JMI.

At the moment, Professor Eqbal Hussain is the one carrying the officiating V-C duties. The previous Jamia VC Najma Akhtar named him Pro Vice Chancellor of the University. On January 31, the search committee that was formed to narrow down the names met for the first time. These thirty candidates were selected, and on February 15th, there was a second meeting.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018 state that the Visitor/Chancellor of a university appoints the Vice Chancellor (V-C) from a list of three to five candidates that the lawfully established search/selection committee recommends. If a visitor is not happy with the panel they are using, they have the ability to request a new set of names.

On November 12, 2023, the tenure of previous Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar, the first female Vice Chancellor of the Central University, came to an end. Eqbal Hussain assumed the role of Vice Chancellor in an acting capacity.