In a landmark victory for constitutional rights, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmud Madani has hailed the Allahabad High Court’s decision protecting non-affiliated religious madrasas from arbitrary closures. The ruling, delivered on independent madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, underscores the supremacy of India’s Constitution and its core values.
Madani emphasized that this judgment sends a strong message to governments and officials who have portrayed shutting down madrasas and maktabs as achievements. Such actions, he noted, were not only unconstitutional but ultimately embarrassing for those responsible. ‘This is a clear win for constitutional principles,’ Madani stated, celebrating the court’s rejection of non-legal interventions.
The organization represented 30 madrasas from Shravasti district in the case and continues legal battles against Uttarakhand’s policies. This verdict bolsters their efforts significantly. Madani urged madrasa administrators to enhance internal management and curricula, depriving critics of any pretext for interference.
The High Court explicitly ruled that closing, sealing, or halting education in madrasas solely for lacking recognition is unlawful. It clarified that Uttar Pradesh madrasa regulations contain no provision allowing such administrative overreach. Furthermore, the court reaffirmed Supreme Court precedents protecting minority institutions under Article 30(1) that neither seek aid nor affiliation.
Addressing all state governments, particularly Uttar Pradesh, Madani called for policy reviews aligned with this ruling and Supreme Court guidelines. He demanded an immediate end to arbitrary, illegal, or discriminatory actions against madrasas. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind remains committed to safeguarding minority educational, religious, and civic rights within constitutional bounds.
Madani praised the lawyers and madrasa representatives for their patience and legal perseverance, congratulating them on this triumph. This decision not only protects religious education but reinforces India’s secular fabric against overzealous state interventions.