AMU's Minority Status Upheld, But Not Unanimously

4:3 Verdict in Supreme Court Case

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) will retain its minority status. The verdict was delivered by a 4:3 majority, with three judges dissenting.

The Majority Opinion

The majority opinion was written by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, along with Justices Ranjan Gogoi, A.K. Sikri, and S.A. Bobde. They held that AMU is a 'historical minority institution' established before the commencement of the Constitution of India.

The Dissenting Opinions

The dissenting opinion was written by Justices J. Chelameswar, R.F. Nariman, and U.U. Lalit. They argued that AMU cannot be considered a minority institution because it does not admit students based on religion or language.

The Implications of the Verdict

The verdict has significant implications for AMU and other minority institutions in India. It means that AMU will continue to have the right to reserve seats for Muslim students and faculty.

The verdict is also a setback for those who have been arguing that AMU should lose its minority status. These arguments have been based on the claim that AMU does not admit students based on religion or language.

The Future of AMU

The Supreme Court's verdict is a major victory for AMU and other minority institutions in India. It ensures that these institutions will continue to play a vital role in providing education to students from minority communities.