The University Grants Commission (UGC) panel has reportedly suggested that the words ‘Muslim’ and ‘Hindu’ be removed from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU), respectively as they are centrally-funded, secular institutions.

The suggestion has been made in the audit of AMU by the committee set up by the UGC at the behest of the HRD Ministry to probe complaints of irregularities against 10 central universities, reported Indian Express.

The institution should either be called just ‘Aligarh University’ or be named after its founder, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the committee suggested in its audit.

The committee has also described AMU as ‘feudal’ in nature and called for measures to uplift poor Muslims on campus.

Though the AMU audit did not cover BHU, it has also recommended amending BHU’s name.

The panel’s mandate was limited to infrastructure and its academic, research and financial operations in these universities.

The panel has also made other recommendations such as – a five-year gap for all ex-students before they can be recruited as teachers in AMU and increasing the university’s tuition fee to help raise more resources internally.