Aligarh: Radical religious preacher and president of the Islamic Research Foundation, Zakir Naik whose speeches are now under scanner of Indian law enforcement agencies was elected to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Court in 2013.
According to a report in Times of India, a medical doctor-turned- televangelist, Naik was elected to the varsity council of the university as a "representative of Muslim culture and learning", and there he served as its member for three years. His term came to an end on June 11, 2016.
The AMU Court is varsity’s inner council which has power to take all important decisions. According to the university's statutes, the court reviews act of the varsity's other two decision-making bodies – the executive and academic council.
There are total of 191 members in a council which comprises of ex officio members, the vice chancellor and pro-VC, representatives from various departments chosen by rotation according to seniority, principals of affiliated colleges, representatives of teachers' bodies and schools maintained by the varsity, non-teaching staff, donors and also representatives from learned professions, industry and commerce.
Along with them ,the body also comprises representatives from Parliament (it has a quota of 10), students, nominated members as well as representatives from All India Muslim Educational Conference and those from Muslim culture and learning.
As per reports, Naik was elected to the court in the last category. In this category (Muslim culture and learning) there are 15 members and among them five are from Uttar Pradesh.
