LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has ruled the UP Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004 as ‘unconstitutional.’ The division bench, consisting of Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, deemed the law ultra vires and directed the Uttar Pradesh government to devise a scheme to integrate madrasa students into the formal education system.
The decision stemmed from a writ petition filed by Anshuman Singh Rathore, challenging the legality of the UP-Madrasa Board and its management by the minority welfare department, both at the Union and state levels. The petition also raised concerns regarding the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2012.
With approximately 25,000 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, over 16,500 are recognized by the UP Board of Madrasa Education. Earlier in March, a special investigation team identified 13,000 illegal madrasas along the UP-Nepal border, recommending their closure to the government.
The court’s verdict has left madrasa students in the state uncertain about their future. Asif Riyaz, a secondary level student in Lucknow, expressed concerns about the challenges of transitioning to a new school and adapting to a different educational system, urging for a transition period of at least two to three years. (IANS)
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