Aligarh Muslim University Gets 1st Woman Vice-Chancellor In Over 100 Years

• Image Credit: Google

• Apr 23, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

In September 2020, AMU completed 100 years as a university, becoming one of the oldest universities in India. The university has had no woman vice chancellor so far. 

Digital Desk: Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), making her the first woman to hold the top post in over 100 years. 

Officials reported on Monday that Khatoon's appointment was approved by President Droupadi Murmu, a visitor to the university, and was made by the Ministry of Education (MoE). 

They added that while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was in effect, permission was also requested from the Election Commission of India (ECI).

"Naima Khatoon, the Women's College principal, has been named AMU's vice chancellor for a term of five years. The ECI has said that, as long as there is no political gain to be made from the proposal, the commission has no objections from the MCC perspective regarding the nomination of the AMU VC," a senior official said. 

Khatoon earned her PhD in psychology from AMU and began working in the same department as a lecturer in 1988. In 2006, she was promoted to professor. She worked there till 2014, after which she was named principal of the Women's College. 

After the Aligarh Muslim University Act was passed in 1920, Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which had been founded in 1875, changed its name to AMU.

In September 2020, AMU completed 100 years as a university, becoming one of the oldest universities in India. The university has had no woman vice chancellor so far. 

Begum Sultan Jahan was named chancellor of AMU in 1920. She is still the lone female employee in that role. 

Khatoon's husband, Professor Mohammad Gulrez, was named AMU's Acting Vice Chancellor last year when Tariq Mansoor, the previous VC, resigned from his position after being nominated to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.

Khatoon being among the shortlisted candidates for the top post had triggered a controversy in October last year with a section of university officials alleging a conflict of interest.

The highest decision-making authority at AMU, the 27-member Executive Council (EC), shortlisted five of the 20 qualified applicants on October 30, 2023. Thirty-six people applied in total for the VC position.

Mujahid Beg, one of the 36 applicants whose name was not selected by the EC, wanted to "re-initiate the process afresh" and put aside the panel in a letter to President Murmu.

"Surprisingly, the VC not only chaired the meeting of the EC but also voted for his wife. Another blow to free and fair elections... The VC did not declare his impartiality in respect of the candidates, so as to dispel any justifiable doubt about his independence and the impartiality of the proceedings, as his own wife is one of the candidates staking her claim for the post of Vice-Chancellor," Beg had said.

In addition to Khatoon, the EC suggested the following candidates: biochemist and former vice chancellor of Srinagar's Cluster University Qayyum Husain, renowned cardiologist and AMU professor M U Rabbani, and professor Furqan Qamar of Jamia Millia Islamia University.