There remains a strong call for the judiciary to expedite the final resolution on AMU’s minority status, which could further solidify protection for minority institutions nationwide
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court’s ruling on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has drawn widespread support from Muslim representatives, academics, political figures, and student communities across India. They have expressed hope that the final verdict would further clarify the institution’s status, benefiting minority education across the country. However, some of them said a constitutional bench of the apex court should have resolved the matter more swiftly.
Muslim leaders and AMU alumni, known as the “Alig community,” celebrated the court’s decision, seeing it as a win for both AMU and minority educational rights. Prof Faizan Mustafa, a respected legal scholar and former AMU registrar, described the Supreme Court’s decision as a “remarkable victory for minority rights.” He noted that the ruling has profound implications for thousands of minority institutions across India, not just AMU. “India has both religious and linguistic minority institutions, including several Hindu-run institutions in regions where Hindus are a minority. This decision reinforces the educational rights of all minority groups,” he said.
Mustafa, who also serves as Vice-Chancellor at Chanakya National Law University, referenced the 1967 Supreme Court ruling which had originally assessed AMU’s establishment, focusing on its founding legal structure rather than its minority identity.
AMU Teachers’ Association Secretary, Muhammad Obaid Siddiqui, highlighted that the ruling reaffirms the principles on which AMU was founded. “This decision aligns with the original vision of AMU, a vision dedicated to advancing the educational goals of minority students,” he noted.
Prof Muhammad Wasim Ali echoed this sentiment, commending the Supreme Court for its diligence, while Prof Muhammad Asim remarked, “This victory was hard-won after a lengthy legal battle, and we are grateful for the outcome.”
Former AMU Students’ Union President and Supreme Court advocate ZK Faizan lauded the decision as a landmark for secularism and constitutional democracy, calling it a major accomplishment for minority rights in India. “This is a triumph for the entire nation, especially the global Muslim community,” he added.
Students at AMU were equally enthusiastic. Muhammad Sadiq said the decision vindicates the university’s minority character amid divisive political pressures. “We had faith in the judiciary, and this decision strengthens our rights,” he commented. Other students saw the ruling as a reinforcement of their constitutional rights.
Political figures also expressed their approval. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi referred to the verdict as a “momentous day” for Muslims across India. “The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the right of minorities to pursue education independently. Congratulations to all AMU students and faculty,” he wrote on social media.
Samajwadi Party leader and senior Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman applauded the decision while noting its partiality. He reiterated his intent to advocate for AMU’s full minority status through a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha, stressing that more legal clarity is needed.
Congress leader and former MP Meem Afzal similarly commended the decision but criticised attempts to undermine minority institutions. He remarked that recent court rulings, including the validation of the UP Madrasa Education Act, serve as warnings to governments that have challenged minority rights.
Prominent scholar and writer Prof Akhtarul Wasey lauded the decision but emphasised the need for the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench to make a definitive ruling on AMU’s minority status. He expressed concerns about the Constitution Bench’s choice to pass the matter to a regular bench, observing, “The majority of the original bench supported the minority character of AMU. Prolonging the final decision is unnecessary, and AMU’s minority identity should be unequivocally established.”
Despite the support, there remains a strong call for the judiciary to expedite the final resolution on AMU’s minority status, which could further solidify protection for minority institutions nationwide.
