Report: Shozab Muneer
Aligarh, As the PhD admission process in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) nears completion, concerns have surfaced regarding the eligibility of a candidate for admission in the Department of Political Science. According to the university’s Academic Ordinances, PhD admissions must proceed through a written test followed by a Presentation-cum-Interview for candidates who qualify.
The Department of Political Science conducted its PhD admission test for five general category seats and one seat reserved under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) quota for the Human Rights specialization. As per Government of India regulations, candidates under the PwD category are eligible for either seat reservation or a relaxation of five percent in qualifying marks. AMU has opted for seat reservation.
Under university rules, candidates holding a valid NET/JRF fellowship are exempted from the written test but are awarded the qualifying marks applicable to the general category. They must, however, appear for the mandatory Presentation-cum-Interview.
On January 22, 2025, the Department released a list of 22 eligible and ineligible candidates for the written test. Among them was Mr. Mohd Arif Khan, applying under the PwD category and holder of a JRF qualification. The remarks against his name indicated: “JRF (PH, BC) scored less than qualifying marks of general category.”
Following the PhD written examination held on April 3, 2025, a typed list of 12 qualified candidates for Human Rights was published. Mr. Arif Khan’s name did not appear on this list, nor in the official list issued by the Controller of Examinations (CoE).
However, on April 25, 2025 — the very day scheduled for the Presentation-cum-Interview — a second list was put up on the notice board. In this list, the handwritten addition of Mr. Arif Khan as the thirteenth candidate raised eyebrows among students and faculty alike.
Sources reveal that this sudden inclusion followed a directive issued by the Vice Chancellor, as per communication D. No. 02/135/2025/CoE/RU dated April 23, 2025, which was in continuation of an earlier letter dated April 21, 2025 (D. No. 02/133/2025/CoE/RU). The move has triggered widespread speculation and concern over the Vice Chancellor’s apparent intervention in favor of a candidate who had previously been deemed ineligible.
Attempts were made to seek clarification from the Member-in-Charge, Public Relations Office (MIC PRO), but no response was received by the time of this publication.
As the PhD admission process concludes, questions loom over the integrity and transparency of the selection process.
