The decision undermines the constitutional safeguards granted to minorities to manage their own educational institutions, said Prof M.H. Jawahirullah.
CHENNAI — Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) president and MLA Prof M.H. Jawahirullah has strongly condemned the Uttarakhand government’s decision to abolish the state’s Madrasa Education Board, calling it “a gross violation of constitutional guarantees and a direct attack on minority rights.”
In a statement issued on Monday, Prof Jawahirullah said the move to bring all minority-run institutions under the state education board was “discriminatory and unconstitutional.” He criticised the government for dismantling the autonomous structure of madrassas instead of strengthening and modernising them.
“The decision undermines the constitutional safeguards granted to minorities to manage their own educational institutions. Instead of empowering madrassas, the government seeks to erase their distinct identity,” he said.
The Uttarakhand government recently announced plans to dissolve the Madrasa Education Board and affiliate all madrassas under the newly created state education board, as part of the Minorities Education Act, 2025. Jawahirullah said the move violates Article 30 of the Constitution, which guarantees minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Calling the decision “reprehensible” and “a blow to India’s multicultural ethos,” he warned that it would destroy the unique pedagogical autonomy and historical identity of madrassas.
Highlighting their role in nation-building, Jawahirullah said madrassas have contributed immensely to both religious and modern education.
“Madrasas have not only served the Muslim community but have educated people from various backgrounds. Eminent figures like former Presidents of India Dr Zakir Hussain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Dr Rajendra Prasad, literary icon Munshi Premchand, and social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy all studied in madrassas,” he noted.
He emphasised that genuine educational reform should be guided by dialogue, inclusiveness, and respect for diversity — “not by coercive actions that dismantle minority institutions.”
Urging the Uttarakhand government to withdraw what he termed a “regressive decision,” Prof Jawahirullah called for consultations with representatives of minority educational institutions to ensure modernisation efforts are aligned with constitutional principles, cultural heritage, and academic freedom.
“India’s strength lies in its diversity,” he concluded. “Any attempt to destroy that diversity will weaken the very foundation of our democracy.”
