Expressing displeasure over the Aligarh Muslim University administration not allowing girl students to use its library, the Allahabad High Court on Friday asked the Vice-Chancellor Zameeruddin Shah to file a reply by November 24.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the AMU authorities to allow entry of women students into the Maulana Azad Library, a division bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice P.K.S Baghel issued a notice to this effect to Mr Shah. The court said it was the duty of the university administration to allow entry of girl students in the library and fix whatever problems come in the way of doing so.
In her PIL, law intern and activist Deeksha Dwivedi has alleged that the AMU Vice-Chancellor was adopting a “discriminatory” attitude towards girl students by refusing to allow their entry into the library. She has also sought directions from the court to let the AMU administration allow use of library by girls.
After controversy broke out following his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor had defended his statement noting that the restriction on entry of undergraduate girls into the library had been in force for decades.
