UP Madarsa Act: On Tuesday, the Supreme Court set aside a previous ruling by the Allahabad High Court, which had declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 unconstitutional. This Act, governing educational standards in madrasas, was reinstated by the Supreme Court, with the bench highlighting the importance of aligning religious education institutions with modern academic expectations while also preserving secular values.
Madrasas’ Role in Education and Modern Standards
The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that while madrasas cannot confer degrees or higher education certificates under the UGC Act, the state has a legitimate role in regulating educational standards. “The legislative scheme of the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act was to standardize the level of education prescribed in madrasas,” the Supreme Court stated, underscoring the need for madrasas to maintain academic rigor alongside religious instruction.
Secularism and National Interest
The Supreme Court also emphasized that regulating madrasas serves a broader national interest by ensuring integration within the education system, rather than fostering isolation. “Secularism means to live and let live,” CJI Chandrachud remarked, highlighting that various religious communities—Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians—benefit from an education that respects cultural diversity within a unified national framework.
The CJI further added, “The country ought to be a melting pot of cultures, civilisations, and religions. Let us preserve it that way,” explaining that creating silos by isolating communities could lead to ghettoization, while integrating madrasas within the education system encourages mainstream inclusion.
Supreme Court’s Critique of High Court Verdict
The Supreme Court questioned the Allahabad High Court’s sweeping decision to strike down the entire Act, suggesting that some aspects could have been upheld to ensure madrasas met foundational educational standards. “Striking down the entire law meant such institutions remained unregulated,” the bench observed, reinforcing the need for educational quality among madrasa students.
The verdict is seen as a significant development for around 17 lakh madrasa students in Uttar Pradesh, who will now continue their studies within a standardized framework aimed at quality education without disregarding religious teachings.
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