The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Aligarh Muslim University to continue with its minority status but restrained it from implementing the 50 per cent quota for Muslim students.
Admitting two petitions filed by the AMU and the Centre, challenging the Allahabad High Court judgment quashing the minority status of the university and 50 per cent quota for Muslim students, a bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain referred the matter to the Chief Justice for allocating it before a Constitution Bench.
The court took an undertaking from the AMU that it will not implement the decision on 50 per cent quota for Muslim students till the matter is pendent and directed that status quo will be maintained on the character of the university.
"Status quo will be maintained as on date of filing of the writ petition before the High Court on the character of the university," the apex court said, issuing notices to students, who had challenged the grant of 50 per cent reservation to Muslim students, for filing a reply on the plea seeking stay of the January 5 high court verdict.
The high court had on January 5 struck down the provision of the AMU Amendment Act, 1981, by which the status
of the minority institution was accorded to AMU.
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