Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind opposes U’khand Minority Education Authority
By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 2 Jul: With the dissolution of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board on 30 June and the commencement of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority from 1 July, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Uttarakhand, has again voiced strong objections to the new arrangement. The organisation has also urged the state government to reconsider the implementation of the new law and to refrain from taking any coercive or punitive action until the Uttarakhand High Court delivers its final verdict on the matter. It has also expressed apprehension that the new framework may pose a serious threat to the existence and autonomy of madrasas in the state.
Following the inauguration of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, reactions from various quarters have begun to emerge. Mohammed Shah Nazar, the spokesman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Uttarakhand, and a senior journalist, today issued an official statement claiming that the new framework is an issue that extends far beyond administrative reform. He also claimed that the issue directly concerns the constitutional rights relating to religious freedom and minority educational institutions.
It may be recalled that the state government has abolished the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board, which was constituted in 2012, and is replacing it with a new regulatory framework under the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority. The Jamiat has claimed that the issue cannot be viewed merely as an administrative restructuring because it directly affects the religious and educational rights guaranteed to minorities under the Constitution.
Referring to Articles 25, 26, 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India, the organisation maintained that every citizen has the right to profess, practice and propagate his or her religion, while religious and linguistic minorities enjoy special constitutional protection to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. It asserted that any new regulatory framework must respect these constitutional safeguards.
Shah Nazar further pointed out that, although the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board was established in 2012, madrasas in the state had been functioning independently long before its formation with the support of the community, imparting religious and moral education for decades. Therefore, it argued, it would be incorrect to assume that the existence of madrasas depended solely on the Madrasa Board. The organisation also cited various judicial pronouncements to contend that institutions imparting exclusively religious education differ fundamentally from the conventional schools and, therefore, cannot reasonably be subjected to the same regulatory norms applicable to mainstream educational institutions.
The organisation further reminded that the new Uttarakhand law has already been challenged before the Uttarakhand High Court and that the matter is presently sub-judice. In such circumstances, it appealed to the government not to initiate any harsh or punitive measures until the court pronounces its final judgment.
Shah Nazar also pointed out certain concerns arising from the new system. He said that educational institutions may now be required to obtain recognition from different government departments, leading to procedural complications and compliance-related difficulties. It also expressed concern that the existing timetable for religious education in madrasas could be adversely affected.
Shah Nazar asserted that some madrasas in Uttarakhand are already affiliated with national boards such as CBSE and ICSE. However, the new framework does not provide clear guidelines regarding the status of such institutions. He further maintained that the authority’s proposed role in determining the curriculum and structure of religious education could adversely affect the autonomy of religious educational institutions.
He reminded that Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has placed four principal demands before the state government. It has sought a reconsideration of the implementation of the new law, a halt to any punitive action until the High Court delivers its final judgment, extensive consultations with madrasa managements and education experts, and the evolution of a balanced solution that protects religious freedom, minority rights and educational interests simultaneously.
The organisation also appealed to madrasa managements, ulema, parents and students across the state to maintain restraint. It urged them to avoid rumours, provocation or any activity contrary to law, while safeguarding their rights strictly through constitutional and judicial means. Expressing confidence in the country’s democratic institutions, Jamiat said that the Constitution, the judiciary and the democratic system would ultimately protect religious freedom and the constitutional rights of minorities.
It may be recalled that the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority came into effect on 1 July after the abolition of the Madrasa Board on 30 June. The statutory authority has been constituted to regulate, recognise and oversee educational institutions belonging to all the six notified minority communities in the state, namely Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis. According to the state government, its objective is to ensure that all minority educational institutions adopt quality education in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP), incorporating modern teaching methods, technology-enabled learning and a uniform academic framework.
The authority is not confined to madrasas alone but extends to educational institutions established by all the six notified minority communities. Under the new arrangement, all madrasas and minority educational institutions are required to obtain recognition from the Education Department. Such recognition will remain valid for a period of three years, subject to compliance with the prescribed standards.
While Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has openly opposed the new framework, the state government on the other hand, maintains that the authority has been created for the benefit of all notified minority communities. As of now, no similar public objections have been formally raised by representative organisations of the Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi communities regarding the implementation of the new statutory authority.
