Aligarh Muslim University: Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on minority status today

Introduction

The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on the issue of minority status to the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) today. The verdict will have far-reaching implications for the university and for the Muslim community in India.

Background

AMU was established in 1920 by the Aligarh Muslim University Act. The act declares that the university is a "minority educational institution" and that it shall be "open to all persons of whatever race, creed, caste, or class." However, in 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that AMU was not a minority institution. This ruling was based on the fact that the university was not established by a religious minority and that it did not admit only Muslim students.

In 2016, the Parliament passed the Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, which restored the minority status of the university. However, this amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court by a group of students. The students argued that the amendment was unconstitutional because it violated the principle of equality before the law.

Arguments

The main arguments in the case are as follows:

• The petitioners argue that the Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, 2016 is unconstitutional because it violates the principle of equality before the law.
• The respondents argue that the amendment is constitutional and that it is necessary to protect the rights of the Muslim community in India.

Implications

The Supreme Court's verdict will have far-reaching implications for AMU and for the Muslim community in India. If the court upholds the amendment, AMU will continue to enjoy minority status. This will allow the university to continue to admit students from the Muslim community on a preferential basis. It will also allow the university to continue to receive government funding for minority institutions.

If the court strikes down the amendment, AMU will lose its minority status. This will mean that the university will have to admit students from all religious communities on an equal basis. It will also mean that the university will no longer be eligible for government funding for minority institutions.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's verdict on the minority status of AMU is expected to be a landmark decision. The verdict will have a significant impact on the university and on the Muslim community in India.