In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court has set aside its 1967 ruling that denied Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) minority status, opting to revisit the matter. By a 4:3 majority, the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has decided that a separate three-judge bench will now determine AMU’s minority status, marking a pivotal moment in educational rights and minority institution designations.
The ruling challenges the court’s previous decision in the 1967 Azeez Basha vs Union of India case, which concluded that institutions incorporated by a statute, like AMU, could not claim minority status. This majority judgment, delivered on Chief Justice Chandrachud’s final day in office, was supported by Justices Sanjiv Khanna, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, while Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and SC Sharma dissented.
The court’s decision follows a plea challenging a 2006 Allahabad High Court ruling, which held that AMU could not be classified as a minority institution. As a minority institution, AMU would gain certain protections and freedoms in governance, particularly concerning its admissions policies.
The Supreme Court’s order represents a significant opportunity for the re-evaluation of AMU’s status, carrying potential implications for the administration of minority institutions across the country. The new three-judge bench is expected to thoroughly review the legal principles surrounding minority status in educational institutions.
