AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Lucknow, A significant backlash has emerged from the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh against a court ruling mandating the closure of Islamic educational institutions, known as madrasas, a decision that affects millions of students and teachers in the state governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Allahabad High Court’s decision on March 22 to annul the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004 has sparked protests among Muslim educators and leaders. The ruling, which argues for a violation of constitutional secularism, orders the transition of madrasa students to “regular” schools, thereby threatening the existence of approximately 16,500 madrasas recognized under the state board.
Muslim leaders are contesting the court’s judgment, highlighting the extensive modernization efforts that madrasas have undertaken to align with national education standards, incorporating subjects like physics, chemistry, and computer science. Critics like Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, argue that the ruling undermines constitutional protections for minority educational institutions.
The community’s response points to a broader concern about the potential loss of employment for around 100,000 teachers and the educational setback for 1.95 million students. The closure of these madrasas, as per protestors, not only represents a disregard for the progress and modernization achieved by these institutions but also risks increasing the educational and social marginalization of Muslim students.
This development is situated within a larger context of reported discrimination against Muslims in India, particularly under the Modi administration, which has been accused of pursuing a Hindutva agenda since its ascent to power in 2014.