AMU Proctor resigns from post with no specific reason for his decision

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Proctor Prof Afifullah Khan on Tuesday resigned from his post, though he did not specify any reasons for the decision.

He stepped down days after the university's Students Coordination Committee demanded the resignation of top university officials, including the Proctor, "on moral grounds" in the wake of the campus violence on December 15.

"Khan has resigned and his resignation has been accepted," AMU spokesperson Omar Peerzada said. He said Khan has resigned "voluntarily" and no reasons have been cited for this sudden move. In his place, the Vice-Chancellor appointed as Proctor Professor Mohamed Wasim Ali from the department of law.

After the campus violence on December 15 last year, the Students Coordination Committee has been demanding the resignation of top university officials including the Proctor on moral grounds for the alleged police excesses on campus. Spokesperson of the Committee Faizul Hasan told media persons that while the Proctor's resignation was "welcome", the student community would not dilute its demand for the resignation of other officials.

Meanwhile, five students of AMU have been booked for burning the effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath during protests against the CAA. Circle Officer Anil Sharma said they had been booked for raising slogans against Shah and Adityanath and burning their effigies at Duck Point inside the AMU campus.

They were protesting against the recent law and order problems in the state during ongoing anti-CAA demonstrations. Those booked are Amirul Jaish, Ammar Ahmad, Farhan, Asif Hussein and Nihad PV and some other unidentified persons.

When contacted for details of the charges against the students, AMU officials said, "We are awaiting details". Declining to comment further, they said, "Necessary action will be taken once details of the incident are received".

(Image source - PTI)