Jamia cancels activist Safoora Zargar's admission citing 'unsatisfactory' progress in thesis work
New Delhi, Aug 25: Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University has cancelled the admission of scholar and activist Safoora Zargar, who was arrested in a 2020 riots case, due to "unsatisfactory" progress in her thesis work.
Zargar, who had enrolled with the Department of Sociology in the integrated MPhil/PhD programme, said the cancellation "breaks my heart but not my spirit".
In a notification dated August 26, office of the dean, Faculty of Social Science, said she did not submit her M.Phil dissertation within the maximum stipulated time of five semesters.
"The registration of Safoora Zargar from M.Phil./Ph.D. (Sociology) stands cancelled w.e.f. 22 August, 2022, in anticipation of the approval of the same of the Faculty Committee," the notification read.
The dean's office mentioned that the action has been taken on the recommendation given by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) on July 5. The matter was approved by the department's Board of Studies, the highest decision-making body of the department, on August 22.
"On the recommendation of the RAC, dated July 5, the DRC (Department Research Committee) dated August 22, and the supervisor's report, the Board of Studies approved the cancellation of admission of Safoora Zargar, M.Phil./Ph.D Scholar, registered under Prof. Kulwinder Kaur," the notification further read.
The administration claimed that her supervisor marked her performance "unsatisfactory" in the progress report, that she did not apply for an extension as a woman scholar' before the expiry of the stipulated maximum period.
"The scholar did not submit her M.Phil dissertation within the maximum stipulated time of five semesters plus on an additional semester of Covid extension (sixth semester) that was also given to her, which ended on February 6," the notification mentioned.
Zargar, meanwhile, took to Twitter to point out how quickly her admission cancellation was approved.
The usually snail-paced Jamia admin moving at light speed to cancel my admission, foregoing all due process. Let it be known, it breaks my heart but not my spirit," Zargar tweeted.
Zargar and some Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leaders have been accused of being the masterminds of the February 2020 violence in northeast Delhi.
Last week, she had tweeted that her application for an extension of MPhil thesis submission has been put on hold for over eight months. She had told PTI that the administration was not responding to her application.
On Wednesday, she had written to Jamia Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar that she was being subjected to undue harassment and ridicule at the hands of the administration.
"While UGC has granted five consecutive Covid extensions I have been given only one. I was forced to apply for an extension under the women scholar category, only to be denied after months citing 'unsatisfactory progress'....This is in clear violation of the guidelines laid down by UGC (University Grants Commission) and points to the malafide intentions of the supervisor and the department. I will be taking all remedial action available to me," the letter read.
A day later, the university had issued a statement saying Zargar did not complete her dissertation before the expiry of the Covid extension that came to an end on Februrary 6, and there was no provision for any further Covid extension as per the UGC notification as the scholar had been claiming.
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Will Prajwal Revanna return to Bengaluru tonight?
Speculation arises after Munich-Bengaluru ticket surfaces
Bengaluru: Amidst mounting anticipation, Janata Dal Secular MP Prajwal Revanna, entangled in the Karnataka sex tapes controversy, might be making his way back to Bengaluru. NDTV has obtained a Munich-Bengaluru ticket for a Lufthansa Airlines flight, scheduled to land at 12:30 am tomorrow, bearing Revanna's name as a business class passenger.
The ticket, reportedly booked concurrently with Revanna's departure to Germany, predates the filing of an FIR against the 33-year-old MP. Reacting to the allegations, Revanna had communicated through social media on May 1 and had said, "As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to C.I.D Bangalore through my Advocate. Truth will prevail soon."
Nevertheless, several instances of tickets purportedly booked in Revanna's name have surfaced in recent weeks, all turning out to be false alarms. In response, the Karnataka police's Special Investigation Team (SIT), overseeing the high-profile case, has advised airport authorities to remain vigilant. A lookout notice and a Blue Corner notice have been issued to locate Revanna.
The scandal erupted when numerous explicit videos, allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna, emerged last month, just ahead of the elections. Consequently, an SIT was formed to probe the case, resulting in Revanna's suspension from the JDS party. He faces a slew of charges, including rape, sexual harassment, voyeurism, and criminal intimidation.
His father, JDS legislator HD Revanna, was arrested in connection with one of these cases but is currently out on bail. HD Revanna faces a kidnapping charge, triggered by allegations of his involvement in the abduction of a woman who had been employed as a house help at their residence. Allegations of a leaked video purportedly showing Prajwal Revanna engaging in sexual abuse have further complicated matters.
The sex tapes scandal has escalated into a big political issue, with the JDS claiming conspiracy and the Congress seizing the opportunity to target the BJP, which has formed an alliance with the JDS for the Lok Sabha elections. JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy insinuated that powerful forces were behind the leak, hinting at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
In response, Shivakumar asserted his non-involvement, stating, "I am neither director nor producer. I am only an exhibitor, theater exhibitor." On Kumaraswamy's allegations that HD Revanna was arrested to defame Deve Gowda, Shivakumar had said, "Not at all. See, I too feel sorry for him (Revanna). I, too, feel that such things should not happen. It's such a big family. Let them think whatever they want but I don't wish anything bad for anyone and I don't need it."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has weighed in, advocating zero tolerance for individuals like Prajwal Revanna and blaming the Congress-led Karnataka government for permitting the JDS MP to leave the country.
