By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 20 Jun: In a decisive administrative move, the Uttarakhand government has again intensified its campaign against illegal madrasas operating without recognition or registration across the state. Acting under direct instructions from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a total of 222 such institutions have been sealed so far. In the latest action, four more illegal madrasas were sealed in Haridwar district on late Wednesday night, raising the total number in that district alone to 85.
The drive, which spans several districts, has so far led to the closure of 66 madrasas in Udham Singh Nagar, 44 in Dehradun, 24 in Nainital, two in Pauri, and one in Almora. District Magistrate, Haridwar, Mayur Dixit, who is overseeing the operation, confirmed the sealing of four more institutions on Thursday and reiterated that the campaign would continue in a systematic manner. He further stated that in addition to shutting down unregistered madrasas, the district administration will conduct surveys of recognised institutions to ensure they are complying with the national curriculum.
The CM has emphasised that illegal activities carried out under the guise of education will not be tolerated in the state. The government has made it clear that any educational institution found to be operating without proper registration, or engaged in spreading misinformation or religious extremism, will face strict action. He reiterated that the campaign is part of the broader effort to preserve the rule of law and the cultural identity of Uttarakhand.
Though there have been allegations of discrimination in this matter against the government, the government has claimed that due process will be followed in all cases and that the rights of law-abiding institutions will be protected. However, it has also underlined that failure to comply with the prescribed norms, particularly the teaching of the national curriculum, will attract firm administrative action.
Following a brief pause in the campaign after the Pahalgam incident, the drive has resumed with renewed intensity. In several districts, local administrations have formed joint inspection teams comprising officials from the education department, police, and municipal bodies to identify and act against such institutions.
There have been allegations that, in a few cases, madrasas with valid recognition were inadvertently sealed due to delays in verification and documentation. The Madrasa Board has taken cognisance of these complaints and initiated a review of affected cases. In addition, the government is scrutinising the financial and land records of both registered and unregistered institutions, with a focus on land encroachments, unapproved construction, and questionable funding sources.
Recent actions in Banbhulpura locality of Haldwani have resulted in the sealing of seven more unregistered madrasas in district Nainital. Similar drives have been carried out in Jaspur, Rudrapur, Gadarpur, and parts of Haridwar district where concerns of illegal construction and land encroachment have also been raised. Officials have also flagged the issue of demographic changes in sensitive areas bordering western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, linking them to unauthorised institutions functioning without regulatory oversight.
The crackdown comes in the backdrop of last year’s violent unrest in Haldwani following the demolition of an unauthorised madrasa built on government land, which resulted in six deaths and over 250 injuries. The administration is now determined to avoid such situations by acting pre-emptively and enforcing the law uniformly.
The government also claims that this campaign is part of the state government’s broader anti-encroachment and law enforcement strategy, which has also included action against unauthorised religious structures and land misuse in other parts of Uttarakhand.
