AMU Vice-Chancellor inaugurated New academic block at Faculty of Law
Aligarh: AMU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tariq Mansoor inaugurated the new academic block at the Faculty of Law today through video conference. The block was constructed through a generous donation of Rs. 34 lacs made by the families of children of Prof Hafeezul Rahman (Founder Dean, Faculty of Law) in his memory.
In his inaugural address, Prof Tariq Mansoor said that he is committed to the further progress and development of the faculty. “AMU Law Faculty is a top ranking institution in the country and the students of law are excelling in the judicial services, academia and the bar,” he said.
He pointed out that the Law Faculty has produced great stalwarts, who have risen to high positions, such as judges of the Supreme Courts, High Courts and other courts, distinguished members of the Bar, and also teaching positions in academic institutions. The alumni of the Law Faculty were the architects of the National Law School Movement and later became Vice Chancellors of Universities as well as Directors of Law institutes. He said, AMU has nurtured many generations of my family, so we are honoured and committed to contribute and give back in the development process of the University, and Faculty of Law.
“I and my family are always ready in future also to help the faculty in its progress and starting new courses and new projects here”, he reiterated.
Emphasizing on the introduction of specialized courses and diversification in AMU, Prof Mansoor said, “Faculty of Law should further develop and diversify as there is always scope for improvement and new courses should be introduced especially at the Post Graduate level.”
A proposal for creation of a new Forensic Science and Criminology Institute at Aligarh Muslim University is also in the pipeline. “In AMU we have a Forensic Medicine department so we have a nucleus for a Forensic Institute”, he further said.
Talking about his illustrious father, Prof Mansoor said, “my father was a strict disciplinarian, but he was always ready to go extra mile for the sake of his students and loved his students a lot. He was always committed to their welfare and always remained in touch with them. His students were also attached to him, and wherever they went they remained in touch with him”.
Earlier, Prof Shakeel Ahmad Samdani (Dean, Faculty of Law), expressed gratitude to Vice Chancellor and his family members for their donation for the new block.
“Prof Hafeezul Rahman, who did his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, had a multi-faceted personality and he was selected as best speaker by the Student Union. He became the Honorary Secretary of Students’ Union in 1929. Apart from that he was elected Municipal Commissioner of Aligarh three times”, said Prof Samdani.
“Owing to his efforts, Faculty of Law was created and he became the first dean of the faculty in 1960”, informed Prof Samdani.
Prof Zaheeruddin (Chairman, Department of Law, AMU) discussed about Aligarh Movement, and said that the foundation for legal education at AMU was laid down by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan himself. The Department of Law was converted into full-fledged faculty by Prof Hafeezul Rahman.
“After returning from Pennsylvania, USA, he reorganized the department on modern lines from a venue for professional training into a centre for academic studies and research in law. He led the department for a long period from 1952 to 1979 and transformed it into a dynamic centre of legal education”, he said. He also presented an overview of the department also including the establishment of new smart class rooms and mediation centre.
Prof Fareed Mahdi (MIC, Building Department) proposed the vote of thanks.