Home > Coronavirus : Has Jamia VC Gone Into Self-Isolation After Return From US?

Coronavirus : Has Jamia VC Gone Into Self-Isolation After Return From US?

22 Mar 2020 03:03 PM, IST


Coronavirus : Has Jamia VC Gone Into Self-Isolation After Return From US?
Najma Akhtar, VC, Jamia Millia Islamia

 

Masihuzzama Ansari | India Tomorrow

 

NEW DELHI, MARCH 22—Ever since Jamia Millia Islamia vice-chancellor Dr. Najma Akhtar returned from the United States four days ago, she has been avoiding meeting people, including university staffers as also mediapersons.

 

Speculations are that she is following the government directives of self-quarantine for 14 days for all those returning from foreign visits to prevent spread of coronavirus which has become pandemic.

 

India Tomorrow made a bid to meet her after her return from the US but all in vain. Though no one in her office confirmed, it is being speculated that she was taking precaution by self-isolating herself at her home.

 

Dr. Najma, who took a very tough stand against police entry into the Jamia campus and alleged assault on students in the university library, had also submitted a written complaint seeking registration of FIR against police personnel involved in destruction of the library and other university properties by the police. It is a different matter that the police have yet not registered any case based on her complaint but she has earned applause from the university staffers and students.

 

But her action resulted into adverse reactions from other quarters. Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, one of the members of the 2018 search committee for Jamia vice-chancellor, has now written a letter to President of India Ramnath Kovind, seeking her removal from VC’s post.

 

When this reporter went to the university to get comment of Dr. Akhtar on Ramaswamy’s letter, Jamia Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ahmed Azeem said, “VC has just returned from the US and she has not issued any statement in this connection”.

 

When India Tomorrow again tried to contact on Saturday, the PRO replied, “VC is not meeting anybody. She is not meeting media, too”.

 

The Jamia sources said that the VC was perhaps taking precaution after her return from the US last week, she was taking precaution due to coronavirus and was avoiding meeting people. “This is a very good step she has taken”, said a university official. The official said that university staffers were appreciating the VC for social distancing at least for two weeks since her return from foreign visit.

 

Ministry of Health Officials have issued directions to all those returning from abroad to self-quarantine themselves at least for 14 days and not meet people to prevent the spread of the deadly virus because symptoms of the disease from coronavirus develop after two weeks of the infection.

 

 







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