The Central government has requested the Karnataka High Court to order the removal of a madrasa operating within the protected Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna, citing unauthorized activities. The Waqf Board contends that it owns the property and the madrasa activities are lawful. The next hearing is set for November 20, with significant implications for similar cases.
The Supreme Court upheld the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, affirming its constitutionality while overturning a prior decision by the Allahabad High Court that deemed it unconstitutional for violating secularism. The Court emphasized that statutes can only be invalidated for fundamental rights violations, not for conflicting with basic structure, thereby reinforcing the Act’s role in upholding minority education rights within a secular framework.
The Supreme Court is set to announce its decision on November 5 regarding the constitutionality of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004. The ruling could reshape religious education in India and the balance between secularism and cultural diversity, impacting around 17 lakh madrasa students.
The Allahabad High Court Today (March 22nd) declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 unconstitutional and a violation of secularism. The court directed the government to accommodate madrasa students into the formal education system. This decision will lead to the ceasing of government financial aid to madrasas and their eventual abolition.
The Haldwani Municipal Corporation in Uttarakhand demolished a madrasa and a mosque in Banbhoolpura, sparking clashes. The structures’ owners claimed legal rights, but the corporation proceeded, citing absence of a stay order. The demolition raised concerns about procedural irregularities and motives behind the action, with political implications in the upcoming elections.