The SC has ruled in the AMU case that an institution of national importance may also possess a minority character

The Supreme Court, in its majority ruling regarding the Aligarh Muslim University case, determined that the designation of an institution as one of ‘National Importance’ does not negate its status as a minority institution.

The Aligarh Muslim University is constitutionally acknowledged as an “Institution of National Importance” in accordance with Entry 63 of List I.

Entry 63 of List I states: “The institutions recognized at the inception of this Constitution as the Benares Hindu University, the Aligarh Muslim University, and the Delhi University; the University established under article 371E; and any other institution designated by Parliament through legislation as an institution of national importance.”
In his decision, CJI DY Chandrachud tackled the issue raised by the Union, which claimed that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), recognized as an institution of National Importance, should mirror the national framework, especially concerning social justice. The Union pointed out that the court should implement a more rigorous evaluation process to classify an institution as a minority institution, given that this classification might lead to the exclusion of reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.