Why in news
Supreme court ruled that a minority community’s educational institution will not lose its identity, even after being recognized by law (statute)
The case was about Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) seeking recognition as a minority institution.
The case was sent back to a regular Bench to re-examine AMU’s minority status
What SC said
Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud ruled that any institution set up by a minority community remains a minority institution.
The community must prove that the institution was created to preserve its cultural identity.
The court overruled the 1967 S. Azeez Basha case, which had said AMU could not be considered a minority institution because it was a Central university
History of AMU’s Minority Status
AMU was initially recognized as a minority institution in 1981 through the AMU (Amendment) Act.
In 2006, the Allahabad High Court struck down this recognition, leading to the current Supreme Court case.
Article 30(1)
The judgment emphasized that Article 30(1) of the Constitution protects the rights of religious and linguistic minorities to establish and manage educational institutions.
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