Without the minority tag, AMU will have to implement a reservation policy for teachers and students like other universities, as every public university is subject to the government’s quota system.
A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will rule on Friday whether the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a minority institution as per the definition under Article 30 of the Constitution.
The bench, led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud-assuming office for the last working day on Friday-will decide on a reference arising from a verdict pronounced in 2006 by Allahabad High Court that AMU, established through imperial legislation in 1920, was not a minority institution.
Now, without the minority status, AMU will have to begin implementing reservations, both for teachers and students, like any other public university. Once accorded this status, the institution can provide up to 50% reservation for Muslim students. Currently, AMU follows the state’s no-reservation policies. However, it has an internal reservation policy, where 50% of the seats are reserved for students who have studied in its affiliated schools or colleges.
The bench, which also includes Justices Sanjiv Khanna – the incoming CJI, Surya Kant, J B Pardiwala, Dipankar Datta, Manoj Misra, and S C Sharma- heard arguments over eight days between January 10 and February 1 this year.
