Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Minority Welfare Danish Azad Ansari affirmed on Tuesday the government’s commitment to providing quality education to Muslim youth through madrassas. Ansari, also the MoS for Muslim Waqf and Haj, made the statement following the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the constitutional validity of the 2004 Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrassa Education Law, overturning an Allahabad High Court ruling that deemed it unconstitutional on secular grounds.

“The Supreme Court ruling on UP madrassas will be implemented with positive steps by the Adityanath government,” Ansari said. “Enhancing madrassa education remains a priority for us to ensure quality education for Muslim youth.”

In a 7:2 decision, the Supreme Court declared that states cannot take over all privately-owned resources under the guise of public good. This ruling secures the education of over 17 lakh students in more than 16,000 madrassas recognized by the UP Board of Madrassa Education, which had faced possible closure per the High Court’s previous mandate for integration into formal schools.

The court clarified that a law can be invalidated only if it exceeds legislative authority or violates fundamental rights or constitutional principles. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, thereby reinstated the 2004 law, supporting the ongoing operation of madrassas under state recognition.

Source: PTI

Also read: Ahmedabad: School principal attacked for surveying Madrasa, two arrested