AMU opposes centre, asserts its minority status in court

NEW DELHI: The NDA government’ s decision to withdraw Aligarh Muslim University’s “minority status” is politically motivated, the institution told the Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The NDA government’ s decision to withdraw Aligarh Muslim University’s “minority status” is politically motivated, the institution told the Supreme Court on Tuesday, arguing that a mere change of regime at the Centre cannot be the grounds for a decision affecting community members across the country.

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“The decision taken after the change of government at the Centre by the present NDA government, led by a member of the BJP, does not appear to be a sound decision based on cogent and valid reasons, but one based on political considerations,” read AMU’s affidavit.

It was in response to the Cent re’ s decision to withdraw the previous UPA government’s appeal against a 2005 Allahabad HC verdict striking down AMU’s minority status.

“The AM U is the oldest Muslim university in the country. Its minority character means a lot to all Muslims,” the varsity said.

The AMU row is a political issue in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims make up around 18% of voters. The BJP is seeking to project it as an example of Muslim appeasement at the cost of scheduled castes, tribes and backward classes — the publicly-funded varsity does not offer them quotas while reserving 50% seats for Muslims.

Defending its move, the government has said a 1981 law giving AMU minority status was erroneous as it was enacted to circumvent a constitution bench judgment that declared AMU a central varsity — which meant it could not be a minority institute.

Urging the Supreme Court not to allow the Centre to withdraw the UPA-era appeal, AMU said such a move would go against parliamentary democracy.