FOR THE time being, Aligarh Muslim University will continue to enjoy the minority status decreed under the 1981 Act of Parliament. It will not, however, implement its 50 per cent quota for Muslims in this academic year.
"Let status quo be maintained regarding AMU's character as an institution as it existed before the petition challenging its status was filed," a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said on Monday in its interim order against the January 5 Allahabad High Court order which held that AMU was not a minority institution.
The three-judge bench recorded the university's submission that it would not implement its proposal to have 50 per cent quota for Muslims till the apex court disposed of the matter.
The court rejected the plea of the Union government and AMU for an interim stay on the HC judgment. But it issued notices on the plea for a stay and directed that the matter be listed on May 10 for further hearing.
The bench said it would refer the issue regarding reconsideration of the SC's earlier decision in the Azeez Basha case to a larger bench, as it involved several important constitutional questions. In January, the Allahabad HC had struck down the university's move to have 50 per cent quota for Muslims on the ground that it was not a minority institution under Article 30 of the Constitution and hence not entitled to have reservations under Article 29(2).
{{/usCountry}}The bench said it would refer the issue regarding reconsideration of the SC's earlier decision in the Azeez Basha case to a larger bench, as it involved several important constitutional questions. In January, the Allahabad HC had struck down the university's move to have 50 per cent quota for Muslims on the ground that it was not a minority institution under Article 30 of the Constitution and hence not entitled to have reservations under Article 29(2).
{{/usCountry}}In Aligarh, AMU vice-chancellor Naseem Ahmad welcomed the SC ruling.