SC/ST Commission summons Aligarh Muslim University VC

New Delhi, Aug 8: The government does not want to leave any chance to please Dalit community in the election as the decision of Aligarh Muslim University not allowing a reservation to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes may cost it dear.

National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission has asked vice chancellor of the university to appear before it on August 9. The commission is committed to provide reservation to Dalits in these institutions.

Now the commission will tighten its noose on Jamia Milia Islamia as well. Chairman of National Scheduled Caste Commission Ram Shankar Katheria said that he was committed to get reservation implemented in these institutions. He said that Aligarh Muslim University utilized over Rs 7000 crore in the past 10 years. If the institution is getting financial assistance from the government why can't it follow constitutional provisions to provide reservations to SCs and others. He said that Aligarh Muslim University was not a minority institution. This is simply a Central University and every rule and instruction as per Indian constitution is applicable here.

Katheria further said that a five-member constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled in 1968 that Aligarh Muslim University was a Central University not a minority institution. He said that university tries to get away by referring the decision of Justice Arun Tandon of 2005. University is saying that it is not bound to follow the reservation policy of constitution Under section 15 (5) Article 30. High Court in its decision rejected the amendment Act 1981 of the Centre that it was not as per essence of constitution. However, the court ruled the 1967 decision as correct that Aligarh Muslim University is not a minority institution.

Katheria asked that why did the university not implement reservation before 2005. He said that the Supreme Court decisions in 1968, 2005 and 2006 Aligarh Muslim University must provide reservation to SC, ST and OBC students. The Commission has convened a meeting in this regard in which AMU VC, registrar, secretary Union Human Resource Development ministry, secretary social welfare ministry and chairman university grant commission participate. He said that decision to SC in AMU might be taken after this meeting. However, the matter is still in the court.