Will AMU court meeting be held on Feb 21? Members keep fingers crossed

ALIGARH: Will the AMU court meeting of Aligarh Muslim University be held as scheduled on February 21, 2015? Time will only tell given the number of times the meeting has been postponed in the last couple of years by the administration.
Aligarh Muslim University has not had a chancellor, its supreme authority, for over four years now. The varsity's supreme governing body, the AMU court, which elects the chancellor in its annual meeting, has not even met once for the past couple of years.
According to the Statute (15) of AMU Act, an annual meeting of the court shall be held in the month of October every year on a date to be fixed by the Executive Council. Unfortunately, after January 31, 2010, the meeting of the court was scheduled thrice but postponed at the last moment every time for one or the other reason. Other activities like Sir Syed day, Convocation, student union elections etc however, were held as per schedule.
The reason for postponement has been the same since TOI covered the issue last year. “At the meeting, the AMU court members might elect former VC Mahmood Ur Rahman as chancellor, and this may not be to the liking of the vice-chancellor,” said one of the court members who did not wish to be identified.
Current VC, Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah, who joined AMU in 2012, rubbished such views, saying, “I have no problem with any person who the court votes into office in the meeting.”
Razaullah Khan, an AMU court member, said, “The meeting on February 21 is very crucial as the chancellor, pro chancellor, honorary treasurer and six executive council members will be elected. ”
He added that there are other matters that require urgent attention and consensus of the fraternity such as considering a proposal of the Pathan Committee that all central universities will have common Act and also common entrance admission test. This matter is important as it directly affects the autonomy of the university and admission percentage of Muslims at AMU, Khan explained.
Now, the human resource development ministry has asked for the opinion of the university in the matter, it is imperative that it be discussed by Executive Council, academic council and AMU court to evolve a consensus before sending a reply to the government.
Another court member SM Sibtain Naqvi said, “I have apprehensions of the meeting being postponed, and if that happens, I will go to the high court and need be to the Supreme Court, to fight for optimal and normal functioning of the university as per provisions enshrined in the AMU Act.”
Meanwhile, former VC Mahmood Ur Rahman visit here, ostensibly for his own business commitment, generated enthusiasm among his supporters and also fueled apprehension that his popularity might lead to the postponement of the court meeting. Rahman said, “I don’t think AMU court meeting will be postponed.”
Rahman started the agriculture department, dental college, and fought with land mafia to get back AMU land. After leaving AMU, he became a part of high powered committees. He is also the President’s nominee on the board of the central university of Jammu and Kashmir.