Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has criticised the Government of India for opposing the minority status of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). In a statement on 25 March, JIH Secretary General Dr. Muhammad Salim Engineer said: “By submitting an affidavit in the court, opposing the minority status of Jamia, the Government of India has negated the history of Jamia Millia as well as the constitutionally guaranteed rights to the minorities.
“The minority character and status of Jamia cannot be denied as it is so apparent by its name and the very well established fact that it was formed by the Muslim community of India with whatever limited resources they had at their disposal. There exists complete documentary evidence for the same and there is a historical background that led to its formation. Jamia and its founders played an important role in the freedom struggle of India and played a prominent role in our nation building.”
Salim Engineer further said: “In 1963 JMI acquired deemed university status and became a recognised university in 1988 by an Act of Parliament. In 2011 the National Commission for Minorities Education Institute (NCMEI) awarded Jamia its minority status. Even after all this, if we are questioning the minority status of Jamia then it is a great insult and mockery of an established government institution such as the NCMEI, which is a quasi-judicial body, endowed with the powers of a Civil Court and is the final authority for granting affiliation as a minority educational institution to any university.”
The Jamaat leader called on the Government of India to refrain from tampering with the minority status of Jamia. He also appealed to Jamia authorities and all justice loving organisations to play their respective roles in protecting the minority character and status of the university, and thus defending the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
In a separate statement on 21 March, the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat condemned attempts being made to compromise the minority status of educational institutions, including that of Jamia Millia Islamia, which have already been so certified by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (statutory competent authority). Such attempts not only totally negate but also expose the hollowness of the avowed slogan of the Government led by PM Narendra Modi that there should be ‘sab ka vikaas sab ka saath’.
What is more surprising, as is evident from order dated 13.3.2018, that no counsel appeared for and on behalf of the Jamia Millia Islamia to espouse the cause of its minority status resulting in adverse order so passed. Such negligence, whether motivated or coincidental, is seriously culpable that an issue of paramount importance relating to a Muslim minority institution was dealt with so casually.
The Majlis-e-Mushawarat has demanded immediate explanation as to how failure occurred on the part of the Jamia Millia Islamia officials including its Vice Chancellor and the Registrar in failing to appear and pursue the matter. “It is a known fact that the Vice Chancellor of the Jamia is to retire within a period of one year, and he may be exploiting such opportunities to please the ruling party in power to secure future plump postings at the expense of the future of the Muslim community,” Majlis-e-Mushawarat President Navaid Hamid said in the statement.
Apprehending that the cause of Jamia Millia Islamia may be unceremoniously compromised by vested elements, the Majlis has decided to intervene in the matter for the larger good of the education of Muslims and also for safeguarding the minority character of Jamia Millia Islamia.