By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 31 Jul: A surprise inspection conducted yesterday at a Madrasa in Aazad Colony here on a complaint of food poisoning has revealed that it is allegedly being run illegally and not registered. The inspection was led by Chairperson of Uttarakhand Child Rights Protection Commission, Dr Geeta Dawar Khanna. According to sources in the administration, it appears that a large number of Madrasas in the state including Dehradun are operating without registration in an illegal manner. Under the rules, the madrasas operating in the state have to be mandatorily registered with Madrasa Board of Education.
A complaint of food poisoning among children of a Madrasa in Azad Colony of Dehradun was received. On the basis of the complaint of food poisoning of children in Jamiat us Salam Ul Islamia Madrasa located in Azad Colony, the team from the Commission investigated. Finding the complaints to be true, the Chairperson has directed the SSP, Dehradun, to file a report in this regard.
Dr Geeta Dawar Khanna also stated that this madrasa is not registered anywhere on the portal of Madrasa Board or the State Education Department. She further stated that when she sought information about this from the madrasa operator, he started accusing Dr Khanna of hurting religious sentiments and of entering the place without due permission. The manager of the Madrasa, Mufti Rais Ahmed Ansari claimed that the Chairperson of Uttarakhand Child Rights Protection Commission hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims by entering the premises of the Madrasa without permission of the management. He also claimed that the Madrasa would file a complaint in this regard with the Governor.
On the other hand, Dr Khanna said that the madrasa operator did not cooperate with the investigation and started levelling baseless charges against the commission after feeling that he is in trouble over the illegal activity. Dr Khanna asserted that the State Child Rights Commission is well within its right to conduct surprise inspections at any place in the best interest of the children. She added that it is a question of the future of 250 children. Anywhere where the food is served to the children, there can’t be any compromise on its quality. She also claimed that the level of education being provided is also suspect and the Madrasa is not running as per the standard norms in this regard. The safety norms of children have been ignored in the four-storey building where the Madrasa in question is running.
She added that the Commission has written a letter to the government and recommended taking action against such madrasas running without due registration
According to sources, not one or two but several Madrasas are running in Dehradun district, mainly in Pachhwa Doon, without registration with the Madrasa Board or Education Department as mandated under the rules. The Child Rights Protection Commission has already drawn the attention of the government and administration to these organisations.
