Despite the allegations of misuse of powers against vice-chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia Najeeb Jung, many in the system stand up for him. They claim that the institution has witnessed more progress during his tenure. While rubbishing the charges made by university teachers and officer bearers who are under suspension, academic staff said the accusations against the V-C were levelled by employees who have been chastised for their indiscipline.
Secretary of the Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) Ibraheem said that the institution has been shaped better by Jung administration. He added sometimes decisions taken by the V-C may not go down well with several of staff but it is requires conviction, determination and strictness to run big institution like Jamia. “The V-C is a strict administrator. His administration has helped in getting the students to classes regularly. If a comparison be drawn with the earlier system and present, a clear picture will be seen on how the teaching staff has got more serious and punctual. The three areas that have been improved under him are the admission policies, examination system and zero tolerance for those who took attendance non-seriously,” Ibraheem said.
Referring to one of the initiatives being appreciated by many, the secretary said that three members were appointed by him to observe nursery admissions, which involved a lot of meddling by schools. The draw of lotteries was done in front of them and the parents in the Jamia School.
“He has initiated zero-tolerance for student copying in examination. Earlier, in copying cases, only one paper got cancelled but entire examination gets cancelled for such students,” underlined another professor Mohd Ibrahim from the department of technology.
He also stressed that Jung has brought discipline in the institution and a proper academic environment which was missing for a long time. “His efforts are to push the minority community forward in academic front. He visits to classes on regular basis to inspect the engagement of teachers,” Ibraheem said.
He also said that there are some aggrieved parties who claim that the action taken against them is wrong thus the administration is planning to provide a graded punishment statement.
Stating that Jamia rules empower a committee appointed by the V-C to decide on the extension of employment of retired professors, Secretary of JTA further clarified that various steps undergo in this process like the ones who apply for extension. “Many claim that administration has taken biased decisions. Also the raising grievances of the employees on whom the administration orders suspension and termination have been thought to overcome by making an official document that will constitute the punishments according to their weight,” he said, adding that they have presented this idea before the V-C, it will help other to understand that the irregularities committed will follow a genuine course of punishments without a thought of any bias or extremeness.
When ‘The Pioneer’ sought reaction from the Vice-Chancellor, Jung refuted the allegations saying there is a free culture of debate and discussion in Jamia. “Each department and centre enjoys its own autonomy and organises debates of its own choosing, be it the students or the teachers. And we promote this culture. No vice-chancellor wants to be strict with his or her co-workers, it is only when things come to such a pass, that turning a blind eye to gross irregularities would amount to being dishonest to one’s job, hence he or she is forced to act.”
“However, at Jamia there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment, plagiarism and gross neglect of duty,” he added.