Aligarh Muslim University. (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Implementation of quota for dalits in Aligarh Muslim University ( AMU ) was a serious matter and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) would pass relevant orders next month if university authorities did not comply, commission chair Ram Shankar Katheria said.

"AMU has sought one month after receiving a notice from the commission and the deadline is August 3. The full house of the commission will hold a hearing and pass orders for implementation of quota in AMU just like other central universities," Katheria, who is also BJP MP from Agra, said.

Separately, at a press conference on Monday, HRD minister Prakash Javadekar confirmed that the ministry had written to AMU seeking "justification" behind denying quota to eligible students. "The ministry has taken cognisance of the matter and is waiting for AMU's response," he added.

AMU's minority status and quotas gained political traction with UP CM Yogi Adityanath raising the issue at a rally where he countered the opposition raising alleged atrocities against dalits by asking why quotas were not being implemented by the university. "Those who are saying dalits are being humiliated must also be asked when they will raise the issue of providing benefits of reservation to our dalit brothers in AMU and Jamia Millia Islamia university," he said.

Katheria said the controversy was yet another testimony to Congress's "appeasement policy" at the cost of deserving Hindu students. The Centre changed its position on AMU's minority status after the Modi government assumed office and this, along with the commission's latest measures, has set the stage for a showdown.

Asked how the commission would ensure compliance of its order, Katheria said AMU would have to follow the order or NCSC would request the government to stop grants. "We have already questioned funding to AMU as it is not following the quota policy," he added.

Katheria said it was an injustice to SC, ST and OBC students who were denied admission for decades despite AMU not having ‘minority institution' tag nor the power to effect quota for Muslim students only.

The NCSC chairman said over 30,000 admissions took place every year in AMU and more than 14,000 students from the quota category were denied a place despite an annual allocation to the institution of over Rs 1,100 crore.

"Last year, the central fund allocated to AMU was Rs 1,160 crore. Besides, the VC is selected through the uniform procedure like 46 national universities. Other UGC norms are also applicable there, then why has quota not been effected?" Katheria asked.

He said the HRD ministry and the Minority Commission both confirmed that AMU didn't have ‘minority institution' status nor a mandate to deny quota. "In 2005, when Arjun Singh was HRD minister, the ministry had allowed AMU to reserve 50% seats for Muslim candidates, which was stayed by Allahabad High Court next year. However, records show that AMU has reserved seats for Muslim students, which is in gross defiance of constitutional norms," he added.

Katheria said AMU was citing the pending case in Supreme Court, which related to minority status of the institution and had nothing to do with quota policy. "So far, AMU officials have communicated they have no documents to prove minority institution status," he said, citing response of the government affidavit in the SC in 2016 confirming that AMU was not a minority institution.

