Wednesday, October 5 2005 18:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Aligarh: Rapid Action Force was deployed in and around the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) here today (Oct 5, 2005) following protests in the wake of the Allahabad High Court order quashing its minority status even as the University said it was keeping its options open of moving a higher court against the verdict.

As demonstrations were held both in favor of and against yesterday's (Oct 4, 2005) High Court order, quashing AMU's minority status and holding as illegal the reservation of seats for Muslims in post graduate medical courses, authorities deployed Rapid Action Force (RAF) to prevent any untoward incident from happening in view of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Vice Chancellor of the University Naseem Ahmed in a press conference defended the controversial reservation policy, saying its purpose was to 'raise the standard of education' of Muslims and to restore the 'pan-Indian character of the University.'

"The purpose of granting 50 per cent reservation for Muslim candidates was not to increase the percentage of Muslim students admitted to the University, but to restore the pan Indian character of the institution and raise the standard of education," he said.

Asked whether AMU will appeal against the order, he said, "Yes, that option is open before us" and added that a decision on this would be taken after receiving a copy of the judgement.

Ahmad said in some of the courses the number of Muslims admitted had in fact 'gone down' as compared to previous years after the introduction of the reservation policy.

He said the University's decision to grant 50 per cent reservation to Muslims was based on the provision of 1981 AMU Amendment Act and article 30 (1) of the Constitution.

Asked whether the judgement impinges in any way the authority of Parliament, he said, "It is for the Government and Parliament to decide. Students of the University gathered in large numbers outside the institution to protest the Court ruling, while some ABVP activists tried to take out a 'victory procession' welcoming the order.

Police prevented the ABVP activists from taking out the march and detained about two dozen activists, official sources said.

Ahmad said he was 'sympathetic' to the plight of those students whose admission has been quashed by the High Court order.

Meanwhile, former MP and an elected member of the AMU Executive Council Waseem Ahmed said the "University was weighing all options for tackling the crisis arising out of the legal developments."

He also urged the students to main calm and help the authorities tackle the situation.

The AMU Teachers' Association is also planning to appeal against the judgement, sources said.