Allahabad HC upholds Naima Khatoon's posting as AMU V-C
The Allahabad High Court dismissed writ petitions challenging Prof. Naima Khatoon's appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Saturday. The Division Bench comprising Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Donadi Ramesh upheld that the procedure laid down in the AMU Act, statutes, and regulations was duly followed.
In one of the petitions, petitioner Prof. Mujahid Beg had alleged irregularities in the appointment process, which favoured a particular candidate.
The HC acknowledged that while Prof. Khatoon's husband, Prof. Mohd. Gulrez, had chaired meetings of the Executive Council and the University Court as acting Vice-Chancellor, his role was limited and did not vitiate the multilayered, democratic process of selection.
According to a press statement released by the university, the HC recognised that the final discretion to appoint the V-C was with the visitor of the University — the President of India — and no allegations of malafide were established at that level. The judgment emphasised that Prof. Khatoon's merit and qualifications were undisputed and her appointment, as approved by the highest constitutional authority, deserves respect and recognition.
Prof. Khatoon made history in April 2024 by becoming the first woman appointed as the Vice-Chancellor in the university's 100-plus-year history. She described the verdict as 'not just a personal vindication' but a strong reaffirmation of institutional processes and democratic values in the higher education system. 'Let this judgment inspire confidence among all stakeholders and reaffirm our shared mission to uphold the university's legacy of knowledge, justice, and progress,' she said.
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