Orders cite service rule breaches, land disputes, and building issues, while madrasa leaders, teachers, and parents say actions feel one sided and harm students
LUCKNOW — The Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Council has suspended the approval of three madrasas, a move that has caused worry among Muslims who say the steps appear harsh and uneven, with little regard for the future of students.
The institutions affected are Madrasa Ashrafiya Misbah-ul-Uloom in Mubarakpur, Azamgarh; Kaliyat-ul-Banat-ur-Razviyya Educational and Welfare Society in Khalilabad, Sant Kabir Nagar; and Madrasa Hanafiya Zia-ul-Quran at Shahi Masjid, Barachandganj, Madyanu, Lucknow.
Registrar of the Madrasa Education Council Anjana Sirohi said the decisions followed inspections and hearings. “The approvals were suspended due to violation of Madrasa Service Rules and failures in financial discipline,” she said recently. “In some cases, the replies and papers placed before the council were not satisfactory.”
The most talked-about case involves the 78-year-old Madrasa Ashrafiya Misbah-ul-Uloom in Mubarakpur. The council has alleged that an assistant teacher, Shamsul Huda Khan, has lived abroad since 2007 after obtaining British citizenship, yet continued to receive salary and retirement benefits.
Ms Sirohi said, “The madrasa administration treated long absence as unpaid or medical leave and allowed payment of salary, pension, provident fund and other dues. This caused loss to public funds.”
However, members of the madrasa management reject the charge of wrongdoing. A senior teacher said, “We placed our explanation before the council. This institution has served poor Muslim children for decades. Punishing the whole madrasa for one disputed service issue is unfair.”
Parents in Mubarakpur fear the order will damage students’ futures. “My son studies here because we cannot afford private schools,” said a parent. “Closing recognition puts our children at risk.”
The approval of Madrasa Hanafiya Zia-ul-Quran in Lucknow was also suspended with immediate effect. The council order said the madrasa was operating from a site not under its control and that the building belonged to a primary or junior high school recognised by the basic education department. It also pointed to a pending court case over the land.
Inspectors flagged issues in room size, ventilation, safety and layout, and said ownership papers were not produced. The council stated that repeated chances were given for a hearing, but replies did not meet requirements under the Uttar Pradesh Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasas Regulations, 2016.
The madrasa’s principal disputed the findings. “We asked for more time to bring papers as the land case is in court,” he said. “Immediate suspension hurts students and staff. We feel Muslim institutions are being judged more strictly than others.”
Earlier, approval of Kalyat Al-Banatir Rizviyya Madrasa in Sant Kabir Nagar was suspended on similar grounds. Community leaders say the pattern has increased fear among minority educators.
A local cleric said, “Rules should apply to all schools in the same way. Action only against madrasas sends a wrong message and deepens mistrust.”
Muslim organisations have urged the state to protect education for minority children and to resolve issues without closing doors on learning. “We want accountability,” said one community representative, “but we also want justice, balance and care for students who depend on these madrasas.”
