Historic Supreme Court ruling boosts minority rights, says Aligarh Muslim University

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India addressed the long-debated issue of Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) minority status, delivering a verdict that was hailed as a significant advancement for minority rights in India.

The ruling, spearheaded by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, was met with widespread support from the AMU community, who view it as a reaffirmation of the university’s foundational principles and mission.

The 4-3 majority decision, authored by CJI Chandrachud on behalf of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, J.B. Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, overturned the 1967 Azeez Basha v. Union of India judgment, which had denied AMU’s minority institution status, stating that a university created by a central law could not claim such a designation.

The Supreme Court’s new ruling clarified that the minority status of an institution should be evaluated based on historical intent and the principles established by this judgment.

Constitutional law expert and former AMU registrar, Professor Faizan Mustafa, who had initially filed the case, described the decision as a “comprehensive win for minority rights.” Dr. Rahat Abrar, AMU’s former Urdu Academy director, emphasized that the ruling validated the historical and foundational evidence provided to the court, highlighting AMU’s original mission to fulfill educational aspirations while serving diverse communities.

Mohammad Obaid Siddiqui, Secretary of the AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA), noted that the decision reinforces AMU’s commitment to an inclusive educational environment, honoring the inclusive vision on which the institution was established.

The Supreme Court has directed that AMU’s case be re-evaluated by a regular bench, which will assess its minority status based on the principles laid out in this ruling, as well as appeals related to a 2006 Allahabad High Court verdict.