HRD Ministry denies CBI permission to prosecute AMU ex-Vice Chancellor

Ahmad was also chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities from 2014 to 2017.

AMU, Aligarh Muslim University, former AMU VC, CBI, Naseem Ahmad, illregularity, appointment, india news, indian express news

Ahmad, a retired 1972-batch IAS officer, is accused of cheating in the appointment of an officer in the university in 2005. He served as the AMU V-C from 2002 till his resignation in 2007.

The government has denied permission to the CBI to prosecute former Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Naseem Ahmad.

Ahmad, a retired 1972-batch IAS officer, is accused of cheating in the appointment of an officer in the university in 2005. He served as the AMU V-C from 2002 till his resignation in 2007. Ahmad was also chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities from 2014 to 2017.

The Criminal Procedure Code 1973 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 provide that to prosecute a public servant, permission or sanction has to be secured from government (central or state) for which he works.

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The CBI had written to the President this year seeking permission to prosecute Ahmad in the matter of appointment of Shakaib Arsalan as Assistant Finance Officer (AFO). It is alleged that Arsalan was not among the nine candidates found eligible, out of the 22 applicants.

The HRD Ministry, on the President’s behalf, sought the advice of the CVC) in August. The CVC is learned to have said that there is no evidence of quid pro quo in the case against Ahmad and hence, the prosecution would not be justified.

Ritika Chopra

Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More