Red Fort attack: Al Falah university received crores in minority grants despite missing UGC funding status

New Delhi: Al Falah University, under lens following the Red fort terror attack, has been a beneficiary of central schemes owing to its minority status, receiving scholarships from the minority affairs ministry and AICTE. National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) stepped in several times to rule in the institute's favour.

While Al Falah does not enjoy UGC's 12(B) status that brings in central funding, it has been a beneficiary of several other schemes, ET has gathered. In 2016, it received ₹10 crore scholarship from the Union minority affairs ministry, up from ₹6 crore for 2,600 students in 2015. It also received ₹1.10 crore from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2015 for J&K student scholarships.

In 2014, the year it got state private university status under Haryana laws, the varsity saw 350 minority students earn a MoMA scholarship. In 2013, the number was higher at 1,144 students. In 2011, AICTE gave it financial support under the MODROB (Modernisation and Removal of Obsolescence) scheme for its laboratories.


Starting off with the Al Falah School of Engineering & Technology in 1997 - when it also got the minority status under Article 30(1) of the Constitution - the group often moved the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions as it tried to expand its footprint off the Dhauj village in Faridabad.

In 2007, the Al Falah School of Engineering & Technology moved against the Haryana government for mandating 40% seats for non-minority students. Citing its minority status, the institute argued that enforcing a "reservation policy" on it constitutes "encroachment on its right and autonomy". Citing the Supreme Court order in TMA Pai Foundation Vs State of Karnataka (2002) and PA Inamdar Vs State of Maharashtra, NCMEI termed the state government's action as violative of fundamental rights of the minority institutions.

In 2011, the same Al Falah school and the parent Al Falah Charitable Trust filed an appeal against the Haryana government's 2010 decision to not grant NoC it needed to get a deemed university status. NCMEI ruled that Al Falah fulfilled the criteria.

In 2012, Brown Hills College of Engineering & Technology - run by Al Falah trust - sought that a direction be issued to the Haryana government to grant affiliation to it for a second shift engineering diploma course approved by AICTE. The state government held that it has constituted a three-member committee to verify the institute's infrastructure and instructional facilities which found some deficiencies. NCMEI, however, assessed that the expert committee was satisfied and it was reflected in its report. It set aside the state government's October 8, 2012, order.

In 2015, there was yet another petition moved by Al Falah group on delay in issuing NoC/certificate to establish the Medical Science & Research Centre at Dhauj. NCMEI disposed of the petition hauling up the Haryana medical department.