The Supreme Court recently heard a 57-year old dispute regarding the minority character of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
AMU origin
The Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1875, to overcome educational backwardness among Muslims
Constitutional Basis
Article 30(1) empowers religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions
Significance
It ensures the government's commitment to non-discrimination in aiding 'minority' institutions
Legal Dispute
AMU’s minority status was challenged in based on amendments to AMU Act of 1920, which altered the university's structure
Court’s verdict
It was held that AMU was neither established nor administered by the Muslim minority, but created through a central Act for official recognition by the Indian government
1981 Amendment
Section 2(l) and Subsection 5(2)(c) were introduced, recognizing the university as an institution of choice for Indian Muslims
Reservation Challenge
In 2005, AMU implemented a reservation policy for Muslim candidates, but the Allahabad High Court nullified it based on 1967 verdict
Subsequent issues
Over the years, this decision was opposed, but the government withdrew the appeal in 2016, citing a minority institution in a secular state