Naima Khaitoon Gulrez: 1st Woman Vice Chancellor Of Aligarh Muslim Uni

In the 123-year history of Aligarh Muslim University, the institute got its first woman vice-chancellor. Naima Khaitoon Gulrez has been the Principal of AMU's Women’s College since 2014 and was appointed as VC by the Education Ministry on April 22. The AMU Court had shortlisted three candidates for the post and forwarded the names to President Droupadi Murmu for final selection last November. According to reports, the Election Commission of India (ECI) gave its go-ahead to the Education Ministry on April 9, with the condition that Gulrez's appointment would not be publicised or turned into political bait.

Aligarh Muslim University is the third Central varsity to get its first women vice-chancellor. Jamia Millia Islamia appointed Najma Akhtar in April 2019 and Jawaharlal Nehru Univerity appointed Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit in February 2022. Naima Khaitoon Gulrez has been appointed for five years. 

Who Is Naima Khaitoon Gulrez?

Naima Khaitoon Gulrez is a PhD in psychology from AMU and was appointed as a lecturer in the same department in 1988. She became a professor in 2006 before being elevated to the position of principal in 2014. Gulrez was appointed the Director of the Centre for Skill Development & Career Planning, AMU, in 2015. 

Gulrez also taught at the National University of Rwanda, Central Africa, for one academic year, reports stated. She has reportedly authored/ co-authored/ edited six books and published several papers in journals of national and international repute. Her appointment comes after a controversy for several months regarding the selection process of vice-chancellors.

According to The Indian Express complaints were raised in November 2023 about Gulrez being shortlisted for the post, as her husband, the acting V-C Prof Mohammad Gulrez, chaired the meeting that included her in the list. The Election Commission of India approved her appointment and the Education Ministry was given the go-ahead on April 9.

A report in the Business Standard stated that the Election Commission also cited the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). "The ECI has stated that the commission has no objection from the MCC angle to the proposal related to the appointment of the AMU VC subject to the condition that no political mileage be derived from it," a source told the outlet.