AMUTA to seek Prez's mediation to restore teachers' rights

Aligarh Muslim University Teachers' Association (AMUTA) has decided to seek intervention of the President, a visitor of the university, for restoring the democratic rights of AMU teachers.
At a general body meeting of the AMUTA last night, a resolution was passed to seek the intervention of President Pranab Mukherjee following the suspension of its Secretary Mustafa Zaidi.
The resolution demanded an immediate withdrawal of the suspension order of Zaidi who was suspended last Monday on charges of dereliction of duty.
It also stated that the teachers would now intensify their agitation which has been simmering since the past few months.

The confrontation between Vice Chancellor Lt General (Retd) Zamiruddin Shah and the AMUTA triggered off after the latter demanded a CBI enquiry into alleged irregularities in admissions during the current year.
Meanwhile, there were heated exchanges between some teachers at the last nights' meeting when some of them who were supporters of the Vice Chancellor questioned the validity of the resolution.

They later distributed a counter-resolution carrying signature of about 150 teachers, stating that the VC was always open to a dialogue with the AMUTA. It also asked external pressure groups to refrain from interfering in AMU matters.
Commenting on the authenticity and status of the counter resolution, Zaidi alleged that the signatures and counter resolutions were officially sponsored and belonged to teachers who were not present in the meeting.

"There are about 1,200 odd members of the AMUTA and the meeting was attended by nearly 600 members," Zaidi said, adding the teachers' body had received full support of the Federation of Central Universities Association in this regard.