SC/ST quota in AMU: Katheria acts as court in sub-judicial matter

With the row over minority status still still being heard in the Supreme court, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes is all set to order Aligarh Muslim University to implement the reservation policy, according to the central universities’ norms. The commission is of the opinion that in order to enjoy the minority status, AMU will have to furnish documented proof by August.

NCSC panel chairman and BJP MP from Agra Ram Shankar Katheria has even said that since the university is not in Pakistan, it has to follow rules. Speaking to Indian Express, he said, “This is not Pakistan, the university has to follow the rules.”

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According to the former Union minister, UGC, the National Commission for Minorities and the HRD Ministry have confirmed that the AMU does not enjoy minority status. Adding on, he said that the Centre approached the Supreme Court on the minority status and since then the matter is pending.

Katheria said that even in the previous meeting, AMU could not show a single documented proof of minority status, reports IE. He said, “In my meeting with the AMU authorities on July 3, the Registrar and the Vice-Chancellor could not show a single document to prove the minority status of the university. We have given them a month’s time to submit the documents. But it’s clear that they do not have them.”

The BJP parliamentarian has sought 15 percent reservation for SC students and 7.5 percent for ST students, under the quota reserved for central universities. As per rule, if AMU fails to prove its minority status, they will have to admit 4,500 Dalit students and 2,250 tribal students, in their strength of 30,000 students. He alleged that AMU’s refusal had denied seats to 5 lakh students belonging to SC/ST/OBC section since 1951.

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Giving a feedback to Katheria’s allegations, AMU Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor said the varsity enjoys the minority status by the 1981 amendment Act of the Parliament, reports IE. He said, “The amendment was overturned by the Allahabad High Court but the Supreme Court in 2005 stayed the High Court order and therefore the amendment Act is still in force. Since the AMU hasn’t reserved a single seat for Muslims, there is no question of making any reservation for any community. In November 2017, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes itself passed an order that the matter is sub-judice.”