Read Time: 05 minutes

Synopsis

At an election rally in Khair on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath questioned why Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), funded by the central government, does not provide reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

“How can it be that an institution funded by the central government, by the taxpayers' money, does not give reservation to SCs, STs, or OBCs but on its own has made provision for 50% reservation for Muslims?” the Chief Minister asked.

Notably, the university's minority status has been in news in the past few days as a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on November 8 overruled the judgment in S. Azeez Basha vs. Union Of India which held that an institution established by a statute cannot claim minority status.

At the rally, CM Yogi criticized Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Bahujan Samaj Party, claiming they have resisted reservation policies in AMU to protect their "vote banks."

The CM said, "When the Constitution and Mandal Commission have given reservation to SCs, STs, and OBCs, why can't this facility be given at AMU? When India's money is being used to run it, then SCs, STs, and OBCs should also get reservation in jobs and education." According to him, these political parties "played with the sentiments of people" to preserve their electoral interests.

The Chief Minister also underscored his government's development efforts in Aligarh, which he said is being transformed into a Smart City and has a revived lock industry.

He also highlighted the new university in Aligarh named after Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh, a forgotten leader, as a symbol of BJP's commitment to development and cultural preservation.

It is to be noted, in 2005, AMU had reserved 50% seats in postgraduate medical courses for Muslim candidates by claiming it to be a minority institution. This came to be set aside by the Allahabad High Court. A year later, in 2006, the then UPA Union government and AMU challenged the High Court's decision before the Supreme Court. 

Later, in 2016, the National Democratic Alliance government, withdrew from the appeal contending that it does not acknowledge the minority status of the University.

Subsequently, AMU filed a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking clarity on whether an educational institution established by a parliamentary statute can claim minority status under Article 30 of the Constitution.