Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), making her the first woman to hold the prestigious position in over a century.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) made the appointment following approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who serves as a Visitor to the University.

The appointment process also involved seeking permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI) due to the prevailing Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The ECI granted its approval, stating that the appointment of the AMU Vice Chancellor would not violate the MCC, provided it was not exploited for political gains.

Naima Khatoon has a strong academic background, having completed her PhD in psychology from AMU.

She joined the university as a lecturer in the same department in 1988 and was later promoted to the position of professor in 2006.

In 2014, she assumed the role of principal of the Women’s College at AMU.

Founded in 1875, the institution was known as Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College before being renamed AMU in 1920 under the Aligarh Muslim University Act.

Despite its long history, AMU had never appointed a female Vice-Chancellor until now.

The only other woman to have held a top position at AMU was Begum Sultan Jahan, who served as the university’s chancellor in 1920.

Naima Khatoon’s husband, Professor Mohammad Gulrez, had previously served as the Acting Vice Chancellor of AMU following the resignation of the then VC, Tariq Mansoor, who was nominated as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.

Khatoon’s candidacy for the Vice Chancellorship had sparked controversy in October of the previous year, with some university officials alleging a conflict of interest.

One of the applicants who was not shortlisted, Mujahid Beg had written a letter to President Murmu, calling for the rejection of the selection panel and the initiation of a fresh process.

The Executive Council (EC), consisting of 27 members and AMU’s highest decision-making body, had shortlisted five candidates out of the 20 eligible applicants.

Among the recommended candidates were Faizan Mustafa, a legal scholar and former VC of NALSAR University, Qayyum Husain, a biochemist and VC of Srinagar’s Cluster University, M U Rabbani, a renowned cardiologist and AMU professor, and Furqan Qamar, a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia University.