New Delhi, May 5 (Inditop.com) Jamia Millia Islamia is launching an independent inquiry into suspected irregularities in appointments and promotions during the tenure of the previous vice chancellor, Prof Mushirul Hasan, it is reliably learnt.

The decision was taken by the Executive Council of Jamia Millia Islamia at its meeting April 29, university sources told Inditop.

The university had received a number of representations and complaints from the government regarding alleged irregularities involving at least 50 appointments for faculty and other positions during the tenure of Hasan, who was vice chancellor from 2005 to 2009.

As per the executive council, the inquiry is likely to be conducted by an independent authority, possibly a retired judge.

The 91-year-old university, set up by nationalist Muslims in the wake of the non-cooperation movement against British rule, has 18,000 students and 800 staff on its rolls. Its nine faculties runs about 200 courses.

Its present vice chancellor, Najeeb Jung, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, joined the university as its 13th vice chancellor over nine months ago.

Among his illustrious predecessors have been former president Zakir Hussain, who was vice chancellor for 22 long years and whose 41st death anniversary was observed at his maosoleum in the university May 3.