Law ministry to decide on varsities in Wakf lands

The proposed Universities are to be established at Ajmer (Rajasthan), Mysore (Karnataka) and Kishanganj (Bihar) for which the Human Resource Development Ministry has already given its "in-principle approval".

The Minority Affairs Ministry headed by Salman Khurshid has also sent a concept paper for the same to the Law Ministry for its approval.

Sources said the Minority Affairs Ministry is pushing for the proposal as a middle path to secure greater representation for Muslims in national universities as the move by some of the central universities to get minority status has run into legal disputes.

The ministry has mooted the idea by taking a cue from the B R Ambedkar University in Agra, which has provisions for special quotas for admission to students of Scheduled Castes, though students from general categories can also study there.

The idea was discussed and given a final shape in a meeting of the Central Wakf Council held a few days back here. 

Sources in the ministry said once the approval comes, work will begin to firm up other modalities for the proposed universities in which the private sector will have a major say because of the private investment component into it.

Though the proposed universities are intended to benefit all minorities, Muslims would naturally be the main beneficiary because the land for the University will be given by Wakf Board, an organisation dealing with the management of institutions related to the Muslims.
Government is also of the view that since Muslims are more backward than other minorities and have a greater population, they would be the main beneficiary of the move.