Question 1

The Supreme Court explicitly declared Aligarh Muslim University to be a minority institution.

Accepted Answer

The 7-judge Constitution Bench only established the legal principles and overruled the 1967 Basha judgment. The factual determination of AMU's status was referred to a regular 3-judge bench.

Question 2

Minority institutions must be entirely administered by members of that specific minority community.

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court clarified that an institution does not lose its minority character if it chooses to appoint non-minority individuals to its administrative setup.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court's 2024 judgment on the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU): 1. The 7-judge Constitution Bench unanimously overruled the 1967 S. Azeez Basha judgment. 2. The Court ruled that an institution established by a parliamentary statute automatically loses its minority status under Article 30. 3. Minority educational institutions are exempt from providing reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under Article 15(5). How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

(a) Only one — Statement 1 is incorrect because the judgment was a 4:3 majority, not unanimous. Statement 2 is incorrect; the 2024 ruling explicitly stated that statutory incorporation does NOT deprive an institution of its minority status, overruling the Basha judgment which held the opposite view. Statement 3 is correct; the 93rd Constitutional Amendment Act (Article 15(5)) exempts minority educational institutions from SC/ST/OBC reservations.

Question 4

Match the following historical legal milestones related to AMU (List I) with their corresponding outcomes (List II): List I: A. Aligarh Muslim University Act 1920, B. S. Azeez Basha v. Union of India 1967, C. 1981 Amendment to AMU Act, D. 2006 Allahabad High Court Judgment. List II: 1. Struck down the provision allowing 50% reservation for Muslims in PG Medical courses, 2. Elevated MAO College to the status of a University, 3. Attempted to restore the minority character of the University legislatively, 4. Declared that AMU was not a minority institution as it was established by an Imperial Act. Select the correct code:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1 — A matches 2 (AMU Act 1920 elevated MAO College to a University). B matches 4 (The 1967 Basha case ruled AMU was not a minority institution). C matches 3 (The 1981 amendment tried to restore its minority status by redefining 'University'). D matches 1 (The 2006 HC judgment struck down the 1981 amendment and the 50% reservation policy).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The Supreme Court in 2024 clarified that Article 30 of the Indian Constitution applies retrospectively to educational institutions established before the commencement of the Constitution. Reason (R): The primary objective of Article 30 is to ensure that minority communities can conserve their culture and language only through institutions established after India became a Republic. Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(c) A is true but R is false — Assertion (A) is true; the 2024 majority judgment explicitly stated that the protection under Article 30 applies to pre-Constitution institutions like AMU (incorporated in 1920). Reason (R) is false because Article 30 does not restrict protections only to institutions established after the Republic was formed; its objective is broad and includes pre-existing institutions founded by minorities.

Supreme Court Ruling on Aligarh Muslim University Minority Status

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