SC junks plea challenging Naima Khatoon's appointment as AMU VC
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the appointment of Professor Naima Khatoon as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi rejected the appeal filed by Professors Muzaffar Uruj Rabbani and Faizan Mustafa against the Allahabad High Court’s order upholding Khatoon’s appointment.
Khatoon is the first woman VC of the historic institution.
Earlier, Justice K Vinod Chandrabn, who was part of the CJI-led bench, on August 18 recused from hearing the plea against Professor Naima Khatoon's appointment as AMU’s vice-chancellor.
The matter was subsequently referred to the another bench headed by Justice Maheshwari which dismissed the plea.
It was argued that Khatoon became the vice-chancellor (VC) after getting her husband's key vote as he was the AMU VC then.
The husband's vote in favour of his wife was alleged to be "conflict of interest" by the petitioner.
Justice Chandran recused himself from the matter citing his past role as a university chancellor in a similar selection process.
“I was the chancellor of CNLU (Consortium of National Law University) when I selected Faizan Mustafa ...so I can recuse myself from the hearing,” he said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “We have full faith (in Justice Chandran). No recusal is needed. You can very much decide.”
The CJI, however, said, “Let my brother (Justice Chandran) decide. List this case before a bench to which Justice Chandran is not a part of."
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
