Allahabad: In a major move, the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered the Aligarh Muslim University to allow undergraduate women students in Maulana Azad Library.
Expressing shock over Vice-Chanceller Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah’s comments, the court labelled it an issue of gender discrimination. The court has also sought a reply from the varsity’s Vice Chancellor Zameeruddin Shah who had recently stirred a hornet’s nest by not allowing girls into the main library saying that they would attract boys.
Shah said there would be ‘four-times more boys in the library if girls were allowed in’ and that girl students cannot be allowed inside due to a space crunch in the campus.
Shah has defended his stance saying while the restriction on girls’ entry into the library has been in force for decades, the female students have been given the option of ordering books online.
The court’s orders came following a PIL filed over the issue. Taking into to account the lack of space cited by the university, the court suggested that separate timings should be made for men and women in the library.
It is worth noting that female students studying in the main campus of the university are allowed into the library. The court issued notices to the university Vice Chancellor and Registrar, asking them to respond within 10 days. Next hearing in the case will be held on November 24.