The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to amend the Madarsa Act to limit its jurisdiction to institutions offering education up to Class 12, effectively removing higher-level religious courses like Kamil and Fazil from its purview, reports India Today.
A draft proposal for these changes is being finalised. The proposed amendments aim to streamline the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, which currently regulates Madarsa education in the state. This act ensures that these institutions adhere to prescribed educational standards, blending religious instruction with a secular curriculum.
The move follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutional validity of the 2004 Act, overturning an earlier Allahabad High Court decision. The High Court had previously invalidated the law, citing concerns over its alignment with secular principles. It also questioned the equivalence of Madarsa education with other state-recognised educational systems in terms of quality and accessibility.
