Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging Appointment Of Prof Mazhar Asif As Vice Chancellor Of Jamia Millia Islamia

The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a plea challenging the appointment of Prof. Mazhar Asif as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Justice Prateek Jalan issued notice on the plea subject to the objection raised by the varsity as well as the Central Government on the maintainability of the plea.

The Court sought response of the Union Government, Visitor to Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Mazhar Asif, Search-cum-Selection Committee and the varsity.

The plea has been filed by Vishal Kumar Rai, a practicing lawyer. He has alleged that the appointment is illegal as the same is in flagrant violation or contravention of the statutory provisions and regulations of Statute 2 of the Jamia Millia Islamia Act, 1988, read with clause 7.3 of the UGC Regulations, 2018.

ASG Chetan Sharma appearing for Centre and Advocate Monika Arora representing Jamia challenged the maintainability of the petition on several grounds, including Rai's locus and the scope of challenge in a petition for a writ of quo warranto.

It was submitted that most of the questions raised in this petition have been answered against Rai by the Division Bench in its decision in M. Ehtesham UL Haque v. Union of India which concerns the appointment of a former Vice Chancellor in Jamia.

On the other hand, Advocate Dr. Amit George representing Rai submitted that judicial decisions have established that an application for a writ of quo warranto can be maintained by any citizen, without application of the strict restriction of locus.

Issuing notice on the plea, the Court listed the matter for hearing on July 16.

Title: VISHAL KUMAR RAI v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

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