The Allahabad High Court today quashed the law that gave Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) its minority status and held the reservation of seats for Muslims in its post-graduate medical courses illegal.The court observed that the Aligarh Muslim University Amendment Act, 1981, was unconstitutional. The varsity is not a minority institution and, therefore, the notification issued by Human Resource Development Ministry on February 25 — permitting it to reserve quota for Muslims in post-graduate medical courses — is illegal.Justice Arun Tandon said the approval given by the AMU’s academic council to reservation of 50 per cent seats in post graduate medical courses is illegal. The admissions made on the basis of this notification is also illegal.Through the 1981 Amendment, Parliament had attempted to overrule the Supreme Court judgment in Ajeez Basha case in 1968. In it, the apex court had ruled that AMU is not an institution established by the minorities, it is established under the act passed by the Central legislature.Justice Tandon said Parliament had no power to overrule a judgment given by the court. The verdict was passed on a petition filed by Malay Shukla challenging the 1981 Act and the February 25 notification which let AMU reserve quota for Muslims in PG medical courses.
