The Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Commission on Wednesday said the Aligarh Muslim University is not a minority institution and asked the varsity to explain why it does not give reservation to SC/ST communities, PTI reported.
The commission issued a notice to the varsity and sought its reply by August 8.
On Tuesday, the university clarified that it is governed by the AMU Act, 1981, which grants it minority status and stated that Article 15 (5) of the Indian Constitution exempts minority institutions from implementing constitutional reservations. The clarification came after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath questioned why minority-run institutions do not have reserved seats for Dalits.
Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh SC/ST Tribe Commission Brij Lal said that directives issued by the Supreme Court and High Court have established that the AMU is not a minority institution.
“We have asked why SC/ST communities have not been given benefits of reservation and in what circumstances it has been done so,” PTI quoted Lal as saying. “The Supreme Court has not yet passed any order in which AMU was prevented to provide reservation benefits.”
Lal said the commission would issue a summons to the university if it does not reply within the stipulated time.
The case relating to the varsity’s minority status is sub-judice in the Supreme Court, according to The Indian Express. The previous Congress-led government at the Centre had moved a petition in the apex court against the Allahabad High Court judgement holding that AMU was not a minority institution. However, the present BJP-led government withdrew the petition and maintained that AMU was not a minority institution.
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