In a significant ruling for the education sector in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board Act, 2004, denying the previous verdict issued by the Allahabad High Court, which had deemed it unconstitutional. The High Court's ruling, delivered on March 22, 2024, directed the Yogi Adityanath government to design a new educational scheme for madrasas, as it was believed the Act violated the principles of secularism. However, following the High Court's decision, which ordered students enrolled in madrasas to transition to other schools, the Uttar Pradesh government challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court.
In an interim ruling last month, the apex court granted a stay on the High Court’s verdict, providing relief to the thousands of students currently studying in madrasas across the state. The Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board Act is notable for its dual focus on providing religious education alongside the NCERT syllabus. It also includes provisions for the appointment of Muslim members to the Madrasa Education Board and outlines operational guidelines to ensure quality education for students. During the Supreme Court proceedings, the state government argued that the Act rests on solid constitutional grounds.
Chief Justice of India, leading the three-judge bench, emphasized that concerns regarding the quality of education in madrasas should not lead to the repeal of the Madrasa Act. Instead, the court proposed that appropriate directives should be issued to enhance the educational standards without depriving students of their rights. Nevertheless, while affirming the law's constitutionality, the Supreme Court did express reservations regarding the authority to confer titles such as Fazil and Kamil, stating that such powers contravene the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act. This ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding madrasa education in India, assuring students and educators that the framework for madrasa education remains intact while addressing the need for educational quality and oversight.
