First woman V-C for AMU: Supreme Court refuses to intervene in plea challenging appointment of Naima Khatoon

The Supreme Court of India on Monday (September 8, 2025) refused to intervene in a petition challenging the appointment of Professor Naima Khatoon as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

A Bench headed by Justice J.K. Maheshwari said it was not inclined to entertain the plea which questioned the participation of the husband of Professor Khatoon, Professor Mohd. Gulrez, who was officiating as Vice-Chancellor at the time, in the Executive Council meeting which suggested her name for the approval of the Visitor.

The petition raising questions about the selection process was filed by Professors Muzaffar Uruj Rabbani and Faizan Mustafa. The Allahabad High Court had earlier found nothing wrong in Prof. Khatoon’s appointment.

The case had first come up in the Supreme Court before a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. However, Justice Vinod Chandran, who was on the Bench as puisne judge, had recused. The case was shifted to the Bench headed by Justice Maheshwari subsequently.

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Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for the petitioners, had argued that she ought not to have been even in the zone of consideration for the appointment when her husband was on the Council.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, on the other hand, said Naima Khatoon was an academician with a stellar record and it was a worthy appointment.