Hyderabad-based Urdu university "bars" entry of its new chancellor, who had "initiated" reforms in institute

Counterview Desk
In an unusual controversy, Aslam Parvaiz, vice-chancellor of of the Hyderabad-based Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) has restricted the entry of its newly appointed Chancellor, Firoz Bakht Ahmed, allegedly because he was trying to initiate reforms, including setting up of a Maulana Azad Center for Composite Culture and Progressive Studies, Model Madrasa, Center for Empowerment of Muslim Women, Course for the Development of Legal Vocabulary and Legal Consciousness in Urdu, and so on.
Bakht claims, he had the support of Prakash Javadekar, Human Resource Development Minister, and consent for Maulana Azad Center for Composite Culture and Progressive Studies, which is scheduled inauguration on the National Education Day, November 11, 2018, 130th birth anniversary of Maulana Azad.
According to Bakht, Atyab Siddiqui, a legal expert in the field of university, former chief legal adviser of Jamia Millia Islamia and author, “Law of Education” has expressed his "dismay and surprise at the myopic interpretation of the duties of the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor." According to him, the Chancellor is the statutory head and the guardian of a university. He is all powerful and the VC is subservient to him.”
Bakht says, the day he was appointed as MAANU Chancellor, envisioned the "beleaguered 200-acre university" to be the mainline of "an exemplary academic success story", as it was in need of serious reform with no facilities in the girls’ hostel, the Deccan Studies Centre tottering and the Civil Services Academy closed, and the canteen for 4,000 day scholars not in good shape.
Threatening to complain to the President of India, in an email alert, Bakht, who is grand nephew of Maulana Azad, has written a letter to Dr Aslam Parvaiz, vice chancellor protesting against the manner in which he was restricted from entering tje MANUU campus as the Chancellor.

Firoz Bakht Ahmed

Text of the letter:

It was deplorable and shocking that you have chosen to educate me on my statuary/ constitutional duties and responsibilities.
Constitutionally, being insubordinate to me, it doesn’t behove of you to “threaten” me with a boycott in case I visit the institution (purely for the purposes of giving an impetus to the cause of education of the Urdu medium students).
This action of yours isn’t only amounting to misconduct but is a classic example of bureaucratic insensitivities.
It is downright discourteous and insulting on your part to insinuate that I would be indulging in “extra constitutional activities”, if I chose to visit the university where I am Chancellor and as per the Act, listed as the senior most officer of the university and, “the Head of the University.”
Mr Vice Chancellor, I fail to understand how visiting the university or reflecting about how the university should function or the path on which it should be steered, or expressing interest in activities of the university, do not come within the ambit of the role of a Chancellor. Which statute you referred to in your disparaging SMS threats? I wished you would have introspected before sending such damaging messages. (This is in a response to my request to be a part of the “Urdu Creative Writing for Children” workshop’s concluding session on September 10, 2018.
“I am sorry Sir, in absence of a valid reason we cannot book ticket and for Chancellor a visit to university, reasons are very clearly defined in the Act, a copy of which has been given to you” -- his the tone and tenure, a VC should use with his Chancellor? Appalling!
Mr Vice Chancellor, as the Head of the University I am well within my right to decide when I would visit the university and for what purpose. You have no business to interfere.
In fact your insistence on not wanting me to visit the university seems to my mind a bit curious and definitely not an example of transparent functioning. Perhaps, you want to conceal certain irregularities since you know that by nature I am an activist and at any cost will call a spade a spade.
It is also rather strange that owing to your own ignorance and skeptical approach, you should reduce the functioning of the senior-most officer of the university to that of merely being “invited” as a dignitary.
I am also amazed at the veiled threat and insult you convey in your communication by the tone of your message. “However if you wish to handle it your own way, something our previous Chancellor also did (being ignorant of this high office) I will not be able to join you in any of your such visits to the University in my capacity as VC …”
Mr Vice Chancellor, you also seem to have made it a habit of insulting the Chancellors of this esteemed university by referring to their being “ignorant” ludicrously, a parameter that exposes you only.
Additionally as per the statute, “The Chancellor shall hold office for a term of three years…”, surely conveys a responsibility on the part of the Chancellor. He is expected to “hold office”. Doesn’t that suggest that there is a job to be performed?

Following from all the above

Having been appointed as the Chancellor of MANUU by the Visitor and by virtue of this office, I am the Constitutional “Head” of the University. I am also listed at the top of the list of officers of the university and am expected to “hold office” for a period of three years. All this clearly defines a role for me.
Mr Vice Chancellor! Presiding over the Convocation for conferring the degrees is yet an additional task assigned to the office of the Chancellor and not the only one.
To reduce it to being the ‘only’ role of the Chancellor, Mr Vice Chancellor, is making a mockery of this high office which you yourself have referred to.
Additionally it may be pertinent to point out that the Chancellor is in no way answerable to the Vice Chancellor of the university in deciding when he should be visiting the university. Rather, it is vice versa.
Mr Vice Chancellor, that you have chosen to interpret the Act in this limited manner, is suggestive of a hidden agenda of yours or a lurking fear of the fact that you have turned this prestigious university in your fiefdom.
Also the insult thrown upon me is cognizable. Besides, be informed and educated that it is the role of the Vice Chancellor that has demarcations whereas the powers of a Chancellor are vast and unlimited as there are no borderlines.
I am also recommending action against you to the hon’ble President of India.