Key Facts about Aligarh Muslim University

Nov. 12, 2024

The Supreme Court recently overruled its 1967 judgement about the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) that became the basis for denying the minority status to the institute.

About Aligarh Muslim University:

It is a government-run education institution situated in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
History:
It was originally established by social reformer Sir Syed Ahmad Khan as the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875.
In the aftermath of the 1857 Indian War of Independence, the College was built on Khan’s conviction that it was important for Muslims to gain education and become involved in public life and government services in India.
Raja Jai Kishan helped Sir Syed establish the college.
Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College became AMU in 1920, following the Aligarh Muslim University Act.
From its very inception, it has kept its door open to members of all communities and from all corners of the country and the world.
The university is open to all irrespective of caste, creed, religion, or gender.
AMU is recognised by the University Grant Commission (UGC) and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
AMU offers more than 300 courses in the traditional and modern branches of education.
It draws students from all states in India and from different countries, especially Africa, West Asia, and Southeast Asia.
In some courses, seats are reserved for students from SAARC and Commonwealth Countries.
It has three off-campus centres: AMU Malappuram Campus (Kerala), AMU Murshidabad Centre (West Bengal), and Kishanganj Centre (Bihar).

Minority Status of AMU:

In 1967, a five-judge Constitution bench in the Azeez Basha vs. Union of India case held that since AMU was a central university, it could not be considered a minority institution.
AMU got back its minority status when Parliament passed the AMU (Amendment) Act in 1981.
In January 2006, the Allahabad High Court struck down the provision of the 1981 law by which AMU was accorded the minority status.
Later, appeals were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the high court verdict.
On January 9, 2024, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court commenced hearing arguments on the vexed question of minority status of AMU.
It overruled judgement in the 1967 Azeez Basha case and also said that a new bench would decide on the minority status of the AMU.
The judgement underlined the importance of identifying the university's actual point of origin-its genesis-to establish its minority status.