Supreme Court’s Landmark Judgment on AMU

The apex court has ruled that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a minority institution and is not bound to follow the reservation policy

The judgment was delivered by a bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and also comprising Justices M.R. Shah and Hima Kohli

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has ruled that the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a minority institution and is not bound to follow the reservation policy. The judgment was delivered on September 22, 2022, by a bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and also comprising Justices M.R. Shah and Hima Kohli.

The case was filed by a group of students who challenged the AMU's decision to reserve 50% of its seats for Muslim students. The petitioners argued that the reservation policy violated the principle of equality and that it discriminated against non-Muslim students.

The Supreme Court, however, upheld the AMU's decision, ruling that the university is a minority institution and is entitled to reserve seats for Muslim students. The court held that the AMU was established in 1920 with the specific purpose of providing education to Muslims, and that it has consistently maintained its minority character.

The court also noted that the AMU is not funded by the government and that it relies on its own resources to operate. The court held that this financial autonomy gives the AMU the right to set its own admission policies.

The Supreme Court's judgment is a significant victory for AMU and for the Muslim community in India. It reaffirms the right of minority institutions to preserve their unique character and to provide education to their own communities.