Former Jamia VC Najma Akhtar Requests Extension To Vacate Official Residence; University Yet to Respond

Najma Akhtar has requested additional time to vacate the official bungalow.

Former Jamia VC Najma Akhtar (File Photo) ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: Former Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Najma Akhtar, has requested additional time to vacate the official bungalow, citing the need to arrange alternative accommodation, as per a senior university official on Saturday. The university has not yet responded to Akhtar's request, which has remained pending with the registrar's office for more than a month, as reported by PTI.

"Professor Najma has written a letter to the university administration requesting to get an extension on her stay in the VC lodge till she can make an alternative arrangement," news agency PTI quoted an official as saying.

As per Central government regulations, an employee is required to vacate the official residence within one month from the end of their tenure. Najma Akhtar's tenure concluded on November 12 of the previous year.

Contrary to this regulation, Jamia Millia Islamia does not adhere to any specified time limit for outgoing Vice-Chancellors to vacate the official residence, as stated by an official from the VC office.

In response, Najma Akhtar stated that she has not received any communication from the university regarding eviction.

"I wrote to the university for an extension even before my tenure ended. To date, I haven't received any response to the letter," Akhtar told PTI.

According to her, several Vice-Chancellors in the past continued to occupy the VC lodge for as long as six months after their tenure ended.

Akhtar also said that the university administration is yet to clear her dues amounting to Rs 9 lakh (this includes Rs 1 lakh outstanding as salary and Rs 8 lakh for earned leaves).

She said, "The JMI has retained my entitlement funds up to Rs 9 lakh without telling me the reason. Never in the history of Jamia, such a treatment was meted out to an outgoing VC.

"The university can adjust any bills that apply to my stay here in this amount." When asked about the pending funds, Jamia's Acting Vive-Chancellor Eqbal Hussian said that the university has received Akhtar's request and it is pending decision. "The letter is stuck for approval with the registrar's office. Akhtar will be liable to pay the electricity bill and any other charges as applicable for her stay at the VC Lodge beyond the permissible time," Hussian told PTI.

The process for the appointment of the new Vive-Chancellor is still underway.