SC allows Delhi blasts suspect to appear in exam at Jamia Millia Islamia

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: The Supreme Court yesterday allowed Mohd Shakeel, a post-graduate student of Jamia Millia Islamia and one of the Delhi serial blasts suspects now in jail, to appear in the MA (Economics) examination beginning on April 5 at the university. Shakeel is currently in Sabarmati Jail of Gujarat. He will be brought to Tihar Jail on April 4.

The apex court gave the order on a plea by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan ordered Delhi Police to bring Shakeel to Tihar Jail on April 4 so that he could appear in the exam beginning on April 5 till the end of the month.

Among those picked after Batla House encounter in connection with September 2008 Delhi serial blasts Mohd Shakeel and Ziaur Rahman are two Jamia Millia students.

The Jamia Millia authorities had suspended the two students on September 22, 2008, just three days after the Batla encounter (September 19, 2008). It is interesting to note that the university authorities had taken the decision on the basis of the media reports about the students. But soon after, the then VC announced to extend legal help to the arrested students of the university.

In reply to an RTI petition filed by activist Afroz Alam Sahil on August 24, 2009, the university said: “Two students of the University namely Ziaur Rahman, B.A. (Pass) Final year and Mohd. Shakil, M.A. Economics, Final year were suspended by the University Office Order dated 22.9.2008.”

However, the university sent the matter to Discipline Committee when the family of the students questioned the suspension. The Discipline Committee concluded that it had no objection if they sat in the exam. The view of the Discipline Committee was endorsed by the Majlis-i-Muntazimah (Executive Council) of Jamia Millia Islamia held on 15/01/2010.

“Decision on the appeal received from Ms. Saira Bano (sister of Ziaur Rahman) against University’s order dated 22.9.2008 regarding pension/campus ban. The Majlis (EC) considered the decision of the Discipline Committee Annexure-III on the above request and endorsed the same,” reads the Minutes of the Executive Council meeting.