Aligarh Muslim University: Seats reserved only for internal students irrespective of religion

Seat reservation in AMU

In response to the demand of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath to introduce quota for Dalits in minority-run institutions, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has issued a press statement. In the statement, AMU has clarified that it has never followed the policy of reserving seats on the basis of caste or religion. The university has said that it has never followed the policy of reserving seats for Muslims. Rather, the varsity has reserved 50% seats for internal students regardless of their religion or caste, the press note stated.

Few days back at a public meeting in Kannauj, the CM had demanded reservation for Dalits in minority-run institutions such as Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University. The CM had questioned that if Banaras Hindu University (BHU) can introduce quota for Dalits and backward classes then why not AMU and JMI?

In the press statement, Aligarh Muslim University has also clarified that as per AMU Act 1981, which has granted minority status to the varsity, all minority institutions under Article 15 (5) are exempted from implementing constitutional reservations.

Currently, the case regarding Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status is sub judice in the Supreme Court (SC). The previous Congress-led UPA government had made a petition in SC against the judgment of Allahabad High Court which held that AMU is not a minority institution. However, the current NDA government has withdrawn the petition filed by UPA against Allahabad High Court judgment and maintains that Aligarh Muslim University is a minority institution.

Aligarh Muslim University is located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh and offers degree and diploma courses to candidates at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate levels. The varsity offers courses in streams like Humanities & Social Sciences, Accounting & Commerce, Science, Law, Business & Management Studies, Medicine & Health Sciences, and Engineering.