Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday directed officials to investigate the funding sources of madrasas in the state following the closure of 136 unregistered institutions. Since March, the state government has taken action against 136 madrasas that were not registered with the education department or the Madrasa Board.
According to official estimates, while 450 madrasas in the state are registered, around 500 others are operating without recognition from either authority, the Indian Express reported. However, these institutions function under the Societies Registration Act.
“Action against illegal madrasas, unauthorised shrines, and encroachments will continue. Unregistered madrasas have been reported in towns bordering Uttar Pradesh, and such unauthorised institutions pose a serious security concern,” IE’s report quoted a government communication as stating.
In January, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister had ordered a verification drive, following which district administrations began surveying madrasas to ascertain various aspects, including their financial sources. Officials said 64 madrasas were sealed in Udham Singh Nagar, 44 in Dehradun, 26 in Haridwar, and two in Pauri Garhwal, as per the report.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind Calls Uttarakhand Madrasa Closures ‘Illegal’
Khurshid Ahmed, state secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, criticised the move, calling it “illegal” as madrasa managers were allegedly not given prior notice. “For a large-scale drive like this, the government needs to pass an order, but that has not happened. The sealing is taking place during Ramadan when the children are away at their homes. Several institutions had already closed after the year-end exams. What needs to be seen is whether the children will be able to assimilate into other schools and curriculum when they get transferred,” he said, as quoted by the report.
Madrasa Board chairperson Mufti Shamoom Qasmi said that students from the sealed madrasas would be shifted to nearby institutions and urged the administration to expedite the process. “We will look into how many children study here after the report on the drive is submitted. The children are entitled to the right to education, and we will ensure it is not violated,” he said.
Regarding the differences in educational qualifications between madrasas and regular schools, Qasmi stated that the education department would work towards resolving the issue. He cited Uttar Pradesh’s model, where the government has granted equivalence to Munshi and Maulvi curricula for Class 10 and Alim for Class 12. “A set of guidelines has been formed, which will bring congruence. The Education Board, headquartered in Ramnagar, will resolve this and accord recognition,” he added, as per IE.
Though a state-wide inspection was conducted by District Magistrates in all 13 districts, the findings have not yet been made public.
Recognised madrasas function under state madrasa education boards, whereas unrecognised ones follow curriculums prescribed by seminaries such as Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband.
