'Unrecognized madarsa won't get government aid but it can't be shut just because it lacks recognition'

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has held that a madarsa can't be closed down by a state official just because it is not recognised by the government.

If madarsa is not registered, it is not entitled to any government aid but there is no provision to seal or shut it down.

The madarsa owner had said that he had neight sought aid, nor sought recognition. The court held that as madarsa was not registered, the students can't appear in exams conducted by madarsa board and their qualification won't benefit them in purposes related to government.

But there was no reason for district minority officer to seal it.

The court said that the madarsa has to be de-sealed (opened) within the next 24 hrs. but the children studying in it, won't get any govenrment benefits on the basis of the qualification obtained by this madarsa.

The madarsa is located in Shrwasti district in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. The petitioner on behalf of the Madarsa Ahl-e-Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza, had approached the court against the District Minority Welfare Officer's directive to close down the madarsa, as it was 'not recognised'.

The court held that while the unrecognized madarsa won't be entitled to get the grant and support that is provided to the madarsas (schools that provide Islamic education apart from other subjects), but this is no ground to seal (close) it. The madarsa management hadn't sought government's benefits and didn't seek the aid.

The decision would bring relief to thousands of formal and informal maktabs and madarsas that are run in the country, but have been facing pressure from the authorities. Till a few decades ago, madarsas were not registered with the government. However, the Madarsa Boards were formed in different states and registration began.

It was promised that joining Madarsa Board would help managements of the madarsas, as government would provide aid and support apart from modernizing education. But government support that came with the Madarsa Board recgonition later affected the functioning of madarsas, as interference went up.

The madarsas were expected to change curriculum and also made to upload videos and photos of their events on particular days, to prove that they abide by the directives. A chunk of madarsas had chosen not to seek grant from government and didn't get registered with the Madarsa Board(s).

However, registering with the Madarsa Board that was earlier seen as a blessing for madarsa management, became a big issue when official inteference went up and madarsas were made to submit to whims and fancies of the officials. The petitioner, Abdul Rahman, on behalf of the management of the madarsa said that the institution didn't ask for any grant from the state and hence didn't seek recognition, but this is not the ground to close the institute.