The Supreme Court has delivered a significant and good verdict on the Uttar Pradesh Madasa Commission Act. The Supreme Court has quashed the Allahabad High Court ruling that declared UP’s Madrasa Act unconstitutional. The Supreme Court said the Madrasa Boards Act does not violate any provision of the Constitution. This means that there is no longer any threat to the functioning of religious schools. The Supreme Court also stated in its judgment that the government cannot interfere in the management of religious schools, but the government should make regulations on what religious schools should teach, how to improve education standards, and how children can obtain good facilities in religious schools. . able. The Supreme Court also made it clear that non-Muslim children studying in madrasas cannot be forced to read Islamic literature and follow Islamic customs. Furthermore, the Supreme Court declared graduation and post-graduation degrees awarded by madrassas illegal.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the state government can set conditions for providing quality education to religious schools to get recognition and financial assistance. State governments can determine the curriculum, teacher qualification levels and degree standards for religious schools. The state government has full powers to frame rules regarding appointment of teachers, health of children and facilities such as cleaning and libraries in madrassas. The apex court also said that the Madrasa Board could not confer degrees to Fazil and Kamil as it was in violation of the UGC Act. Madrasas are authorized to award degrees below Alim. Alim degree is considered equivalent to passing 12th class, on the basis of which a person can gain admission to colleges and universities. The Supreme Court said that Fazil and Kamil degrees conferred by madrassas for graduation and post-graduation are not recognized and for this the madrassas must first obtain permission from the UGC. The Supreme Court’s decision was welcomed by almost all major Muslim organizations. Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and the All India Shia Personal Law Board said the Supreme Court had corrected the error of the High Court.
There are 16,000 madrassas operating in Uttar Pradesh. More than 1.7 million children study in these schools. After becoming chief minister in 2017, Yogi Adityanath began efforts to modernize madrassas. A madrasa portal has been created where all madrassas in UP must register. As a result, more than 5,000 illegally operating religious schools were closed. Webcams installed in religious schools to prevent children from cheating. A survey of unrecognized religious schools was conducted. The Yogi government provided assistance to 558 religious schools seeking government assistance. Teachers and staff salaries are paid to these madrassas by the government. Children get NCERT books and lunch. There are two types of issues regarding religious schools. First, the state government believes that religious schools do not impart modern education and that religious schools only place more emphasis on the study of Islamic texts. On the other hand, those who run religious schools believe that the government wants to take over religious schools and interfere with their operations. The Supreme Court answered both questions.
The government will not be able to interfere in the management of madrassas, but they can decide what should be taught in madrassas, what the curriculum should be, and what subjects should be. This decision should be welcomed. Those who run madrassas should use this opportunity to introduce modern education so that children who study in madrassas can later enter good universities and become doctors, engineers, lawyers and IT professionals. On the other hand, this propaganda about terrorists being trained in religious schools should end. All madrassas should not be maligned by giving examples of a few Maulana or Maulvi madrasas in two to four places. Sadly, political parties also find political problems in it. This is limited to the salaries of teachers who teach in madrassas, while what is really needed is improvements in the education system in madrassas, the qualifications of teachers who teach in the schools, and facilities like libraries in madrassas. Everyone should give it a try together. (Rajat Sharma)
Watch: ‘Aaj Ki Baat, with Rajat Sharma’ full episode, November 5, 2024
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