The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought Jamia Millia Islamia’s response on a plea challenging the University administrations’ decision disbanding the Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) [Dr Amir Azam v Jamia Millia Islamia]..Single-judge Justice Prathiba M Singh issued notice on a petition by former JTA President, Professor Amir Azam directing the University to file its response.The Court also ordered the Jamia vice-chancellor Professor Najma Akhtar to meet the representatives of the teachers’ association who have been against the administration’s move to disband the association.Justice Singh has said that the meeting will be conducted at the VC’s office December 20..Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Professor Azam and argued that the university VC has no power or authority to disband the association. He stated that teachers have the fundamental right to form an association under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution.Advocate Pritish Sabharwal, appearing for the University, stated that the association has to be as per the Jamia Act. He further said that the administration has constituted a committee to look into the constitution of the JTA and its report will be available soon..After hearing the counsel, Justice Singh directed Jamia to place the report of the committee before the court in a sealed cover.The judge added that she will also examine whether the petitioner has the right to maintain the petition given the fact he no longer works at the University and whether the teachers’ association functions independently in absence of any prohibition in the statute constituting the University.The matter will be heard next on February 14..The petition has been filed through advocates Ch Animes Prusty and Mukul Kulhari.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought Jamia Millia Islamia’s response on a plea challenging the University administrations’ decision disbanding the Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) [Dr Amir Azam v Jamia Millia Islamia]..Single-judge Justice Prathiba M Singh issued notice on a petition by former JTA President, Professor Amir Azam directing the University to file its response.The Court also ordered the Jamia vice-chancellor Professor Najma Akhtar to meet the representatives of the teachers’ association who have been against the administration’s move to disband the association.Justice Singh has said that the meeting will be conducted at the VC’s office December 20..Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Professor Azam and argued that the university VC has no power or authority to disband the association. He stated that teachers have the fundamental right to form an association under Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution.Advocate Pritish Sabharwal, appearing for the University, stated that the association has to be as per the Jamia Act. He further said that the administration has constituted a committee to look into the constitution of the JTA and its report will be available soon..After hearing the counsel, Justice Singh directed Jamia to place the report of the committee before the court in a sealed cover.The judge added that she will also examine whether the petitioner has the right to maintain the petition given the fact he no longer works at the University and whether the teachers’ association functions independently in absence of any prohibition in the statute constituting the University.The matter will be heard next on February 14..The petition has been filed through advocates Ch Animes Prusty and Mukul Kulhari.