Stakeholders voiced apprehensions about the future of students pursuing Kamil (graduate) and Fazil (postgraduate) courses. The concerns arise as the Uttar Pradesh government considers amending the Madrasa Act following a Supreme Court ruling. The proposed changes could impact the recognition and academic progression of these courses. Stakeholders are urging clarity and safeguards to protect student interests.
The Uttar Pradesh government is considering amending the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004 in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The proposed amendment is likely to exclude the Kamil (Graduate) and Fazil (Post Graduate) courses from the Act’s provisions, according to sources familiar with the situation.
As discussions about the potential amendment unfold, stakeholders have raised concerns regarding the future of students currently enrolled in these two courses. Last month, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the U.P. Madrasa Act, stating that the U.P. Madrasa Board would grant recognition only up to Class 12.
The court ruled that the Kamil and Fazil degrees conflict with the University Grants Commission Act.
Approximately 16,000 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh are affiliated with the U.P. State Madrasa Board, with around 1,000 of these madrasas offering Kamil and Fazil courses, which together enroll nearly 38,000 students. The Kamil course lasts three years, while the Fazil course is two years in duration.
Iftikhar Ahmed Javed, former chairman of the U.P. Madrasa Board, expressed concerns about the proposed changes,
“If this comes true, then what will happen to those students who are already enrolled in Kamil and Fazil courses as they have already dedicated time to these programs? These two courses should be immediately recognized by the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University so that students can continue their higher education.”
He added,
“The proposal for recognition of Kamil and Fazil by the Language University has been pending with the government for many years. This proposal has been submitted multiple times, but it seems to have been lost somewhere in the files. However, following the court verdict, arrangements must be made to accommodate these students and secure their futures.”
Prominent Sunni cleric Maulana Sufiyan Nizami stated,
“The Kamil and Fazil courses hold no legal weight in any university or educational institution. Their only relevance was for appointments within the Madrasa Board. However, for many years, those completing their Alim (Class 12) have been attending universities for higher education. I don’t believe an amendment is necessary since the course is not recognized by any university. If an amendment does occur, the government should prioritize the future of those currently pursuing these courses.”
Danish Azad Ansari, the Minister of State for Minority Welfare, Muslim Waqf, and Haj, noted that no decisions have yet been finalized regarding the amendment, but a meeting will soon take place to discuss the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directives on madrasa education.
He said,
“The directives by the Honourable Supreme Court concerning madrasa education will be discussed in a government meeting soon, and we will determine the best possible actions to enhance madrasa education. The Yogi government is committed to providing the best education for madrasa students.”
On November 5, the Supreme Court set-aside the Allahabad High Court’s March ruling, which had declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004 unconstitutional.
A bench led by then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the Uttar Pradesh government’s crucial role in ensuring that educational standards in madrasas meet modern academic requirements, instructing the state to transition students to other schools.
The Supreme Court also ruled that madrasas cannot confer degrees in higher education, as this would violate the University Grants Commission Act.
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