AMU's deputy registrar caught using wrong Army rank

AGRA

: In a major embarrassment for the authorities of Aligarh Muslim University, the varsity's

deputy registrar

, Khan Arqam Saifullah, was found to have wrongly used the military rank of 'Major' with his name. The matter was clarified by Army headquarters in New Delhi this month, which stated that Saifullah was released in the rank of 'captain' on completion of his contractual period. He is also not allowed to use any Army rank with his name since his was a non-regular employment.


The episode came to light when Saifullah wrote to the varsity insisting that the prefix 'Major' be used with his name for all official purposes. The university had then sought a clarification from the Army. An inquiry has been initiated into the matter even as AMU authorities have ordered removal of 'Major' from Saifullah's name in all official records.

According to university sources, Saifullah has been using the designation ever since his appointment to the varsity as a chief security officer in 2015. He was employed on ad hoc basis during the tenure of former vice chancellor (VC) Lt Gen (retd) Zameer Uddin Shah. A year later, Saifullah was promoted as deputy registrar of the institute. AMU registrar, Javaid Akhtar, said, "Orders have been issued to remove the prefix from his name. We have placed the matter before VC Tariq Mansoor."

VC Mansoor said, "We have asked Saifullah to provide all details regarding his claims to the designation. Further action will be taken after we receive his reply."

When contacted, Saifullah declined to speak in the matter.

An office memo (a copy of which is with the TOI), which was issued by the university, reads: "In order to get a clarification, a letter was issued to the joint director adjutant general's brand, Army headquarters, New Delhi. A reply received from them, dated June 6, 2018, clarified that Saifullah was released in the rank of captain on completion of his contractual period. Also, non-regular officers are not entitled to use any military rank after release."