Plea filed before Delhi High Court against appointment of Jamia Hamdard law dean

The Delhi High Court recently ordered Jamia Hamdard to produce the entire records related to the appointment of Dr Saleena K Basheer as Professor of Law at the University [Md Ashraf Jamal v Jamia Hamdard & Ors]. 

Basheer is currently serving as the Dean of Hamdard Institute of Legal Studies and Research (HILSR) at Jamia Hamdard.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that records should be produced by the next date of hearing on January 14, 2026. 

“Mr [Mohinder JS] Rupal, learned counsel representing respondent no.1/Jamia Hamdard is directed to produce the entire record pertaining to the selection of respondent no.2 [Dr Saleena K Basheer], as professor, in respondent no.1/Jamia Hamdard,” the Court said in its order of October 15. 

The Court has not issued notices, as of now, on the petition.

The Bench issued the direction while dealing with a plea challenging Basheer’s appointment as Professor and Dean.

According to the plea filed by one Md Ashraf Jamal, Basheer’s appointment as professor in October 2021 violated the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2018 and the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) Rules of Legal Education, 2008.

It was stated that her appointment as Dean is void ab initio, since it flows from her allegedly invalid professorship.

In his plea, Jamal contended that Basheer lacks the required 10 research publications in UGC-listed journals, a minimum research score of 120, and 10 years’ teaching experience as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. It also stated that she has not supervised any doctoral candidates, another essential qualification for the post.

Citing her publicly available CV, the petitioner submitted that Basheer had only one publication in a UGC-listed journal and limited teaching experience of approximately 1.5 years before being appointed as Professor. 

Advocates Warisha Farasat and Suvarna Swain appeared for petitioner Ashraf Jamal. 

Advocates Mohinder JS Rupal, Hardik Rupal, Aishwarya Malhotra and Mayuri Lende represented Jamia Hamdard. 

Dr Saleena Basheer appeared in person before the Court. 

[Read Order]