AMU retains minority status, rules SC; allows it to reserve seats for Muslims
Supreme Court dismisses petitions challenging the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Amendment Act of 1981, which restored the varsity's minority status.
The apex court upheld the 2006 judgment of the Allahabad High Court that had ruled AMU as a minority institution.
In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the minority status of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), paving the way for the institution to continue reserving seats for Muslim students.
A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, Surya Kant and Vikram Nath dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, 1981, which restored the varsity's minority status.
The court held that the 1981 Act was constitutionally valid and that AMU was entitled to minority status under Article 30(1) of the Constitution.
The apex court's verdict came on a batch of petitions filed by various individuals and organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-linked ABVP, challenging the constitutional validity of the 1981 Act.
The petitioners had contended that the 1981 Act violated the basic structure of the Constitution and that AMU could not be granted minority status as it was not established by the Muslim community.
However, the Supreme Court rejected these arguments, holding that AMU was established by the Muslim community and that it had always maintained its character as a minority institution.
The court also noted that the 1981 Act was passed by Parliament with the specific objective of restoring AMU's minority status, which had been taken away by an earlier amendment in 1972.
The court's verdict is a major victory for AMU and the Muslim community. It ensures that the varsity will be able to continue to reserve seats for Muslim students and maintain its character as a minority institution.
Key points of the Supreme Court judgment
- The Aligarh Muslim University (Amendment) Act, 1981, is constitutionally valid.
- AMU is entitled to minority status under Article 30(1) of the Constitution.
- AMU was established by the Muslim community and has always maintained its character as a minority institution.
- The 1981 Act was passed by Parliament with the specific objective of restoring AMU's minority status.
