Delhi High Court seeks Central government's stand on plea against closure of Maulana Azad Education Foundation

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought Central government’s stand on a plea challenging the Ministry of Minority Affairs' decision approving a proposal by the Central Waqf Council (CFC) to close the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) [Dr Syeda Saiyidain Hameed & Ors v Union of India & Ors]..MAEF is a government-funded organisation aimed at promoting education among educationally disadvantaged sections of the Muslim community..A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora heard the matter in brief. As the counsel appearing for the Central government said that they have no instructions on the issue, the Court adjourned the hearing till March 7 and asked the government counsel to obtain instructions..The Court was dealing with a plea filed by a group of citizens who argued that the government order to close MAEF not only “deprives the deserving and meritorious students, especially girl students, from availing the benefits of the schemes of MAEF" but is also without jurisdiction and was "completely mala fide, arbitrary and a colourable exercise of authority.".“What is even more worrying is the fact that while a process of dissolution of any society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 is to be initiated by a proposal of three-fifth members of that society as per Section 13 of the Act, and its assets are to be transferred similarly to a similar society to be also determined by a vote of three-fifth members as per Section 14, the office order dated 07.02.2024 not only dictates that the MAEF should dissolve itself but also predetermines that the remainder funds of the MAEF would be transferred to the Consolidated Fund of India and its fixed assets shall go to CWC, in a clear and abject violation of the legal regime envisaged under the Societies Registration Act, 1860,” the plea stated..According to a report in the Hindustan Times, MAEF experienced a significant budget cut in the last few years with grants-in-aid dropping from ₹90 crore in 2021-22 to ₹1 lakh in 2022-23. It was then increased to ₹10 lakh in 2023-24 but for the year 2024-25, the foundation did not receive any funds from the government.The same report also said that as of 2021-22, the Maulana Azad National Fellowship had aided over 6,700 candidates, disbursing ₹738.85 crores.However, the scheme was discontinued in 2022, resulting in widespread student protests, the report added. .Senior Advocate Anand Grover argued the case. He was assisted by advocates Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, Ibad Mushtaq, Akanksha Rai, Rohin Bhatt and Gurneet Kaur.