New Delhi: On December 2, 2009 (Wednesday), Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry made the announcement that Jamia Millia is not a minority central university. The announcement was made to suppress the raging debate over the minority status for the well-known Jamia Millia Islamia.
Kapil Sibal, HRD Minister, said that among the central universities, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), which has been defined as 'the educational institution of their choice established by the Muslims of India', has been so recognized by the central government. He mentioned it in response to a Lok Sabha question on the number of universities located in the country for minorities,
As per sources,several politicians from the Muslim community have already met Sibal and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, demanding that OBC quota must not be implemented in Jamia. Meanwhile, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has threatened to withhold grants unless Jamia keeps aside 27 percent seats for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), from coming academic session. As per the Central Government guidelines, all central universities must implement the 27 percent OBC quota, but Jamia, in spite of its central university status, is yet to initiate the process.
