Supreme Court Pauses High Court Order on UP Madrassas

New Delhi: Around 17 lakh madrassa students in Uttar Pradesh had a relief on Friday as the Supreme Court stayed an Allahabad High Court order scrapping the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004.

Following this Supreme Court order, around 16,000 madrassas in UP will continue to function under the 2004 law.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud termed the high court decision as not correct as per prima facie. The apex court also sought a response from the UP government. The case was posted for further hearing in the second week of July.

The Allahabad High Court in March declared the 2004 law “unconstitutional” for violating the principle of secularism and directed the government to accommodate the madrasa students in the formal education system.

On Friday, the Supreme Court put the High Court decision on hold and said the aims and objectives of the Madrassa Board are regulatory in nature and the establishment of the Madrassa Board itself will not affect secularism.