By RINA,
New Delhi: In a joint meeting of the office-bearers of all organizations of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Jamia Teachers’ Association (JTA) has demanded the government to restore minority character of Jamia unequivocally. JTA president Prof. Nusratullah Khan chaired the meeting held in the committee room of JMI’s engineering faculty.
Besides JTA, Jamia Administrative Staff Association, Jamia School Teachers’ Association, Shafiqur Rahman Kidwai Association, Jamia Old Boys Association and teachers’ representatives of Majlis-e-Ta’leemi were adequately represented in the meeting which raised a few more demands.
A resolution passed in the meeting explicitly says, ‘JMI is a minority institution under article 30(a) of the Constitution of India founded by Muslim leaders for specific purposes of Muslims’ welfare.’ JMI Society was accorded the status of a deemed university in 962 under UGC Act 956 and later upgraded as a Central University through a parliamentary bill JMI Act 1988. Acts 2(O) and 4(i) of the said Act confirm JMI’s minority character.
The SC verdict in famous St. Stephen’s case (SSC 558, 1992) allows minority educational institutions to reserve 50 percent seats for concerned minority’s students. The verdict was unequivocal and therefore implemented in JMI. Moreover, recent SC verdicts have not only expanded this scope but gave more powers to minority institutions in this regard. HRD ministry’s April 3, 2006 directive, bearing DO no. F6122006, also asked JMI to admit at least 50 percent Muslim students.
On the contrary, article 4(c) of CEI Act 2006 clearly excludes minority educational institutions. This was also clarified by former HRD minister Arjun Singh in vice-chancellors’ meeting held on May 14, 2008. On these grounds, the meeting demanded JMI administration to reserve at least 50 per cent seats for Muslim students in all courses.
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