“The public exchequer or the UGC (University Grants Commission) is not being charged for the relief, as alleged by several individuals and political parties,” he said. “In Jamia, as in several other universities across the country, we have a students’ aid fund. The money used in the process will be taken from this fund, which is contributed by our own students.”

Prof Hasan was speaking to The Indian Express staffers as part of the weekly Idea Exchange programme; the longer version of the interaction will be published on Sunday.

He said: “Providing legal aid does not mean we intend to interfere with the legal process or defend the two; we will provide them access to justice, which is their right under the Constitution.” He said the students “cannot be branded as terrorists until proven guilty — and if they are proven guilty by the court of law, not a tear will be shed by anyone.”

Prof Hasan said a university’s role is “like that of a parent”, a view he said is shared by eminent jurists like Ram Jethmalani. He said the incidents of September 19 — the day of the encounter — are in “no way connected to the university. It is outrageous to castigate an 80-year old university on the basis of unproven charges against a couple of students.”

He said, “As head of the institution, I will defend the constitutional, legal and moral rights of the university while preserving its liberal secular character.”