Allahabad HC strikes down AMU's minority status

Allahabad HC strikes down AMU's minority status - NDTV.com - News on Allahabad HC strikes down AMU's minority status: "The ruling means that there can be no special quotas for Muslims in the university.

Hearing a special appeal filed by the university, the court said the Aligarh Muslim University Amendment Act of 1981 giving it minority status was unconstitutional.

The Congress-led Central government had earlier passed an ordinance favouring 50 per cent reservation for Muslims in AMU citing its minority character. "The court has rejected the special appeal given to the court by the government and the Aligarh Muslim University," said SG Hassain, advocate for AMU.

"The court took the decision that AMU is not a minority university and hence Article 30 does not apply to it. Some amendments were made in 1981, which were also rejected by the court," he added.

Questioning the 80-year-old institution's minority character, the court said AMU should, like all other universities, follow the Central Universities Act.

Reacting to the court's decision, Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh said, "Let us examine the judgement and then decide what is to be done."

According to sources, the Centre may move the Supreme Court against the Allahabad HC's decision."