Team Clarion
LUCKNOW – The Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its scrutiny of madrasas after an illegal currency printing machine was recently recovered from a madrasa in Shravasti district, reigniting political tensions. The incident follows a similar case in Prayagraj, leading the state’s Minority Welfare Minister, Om Prakash Rajbhar, to make a controversial statement placing all madrasas under suspicion.
Minister Rajbhar stated, “First Prayagraj, now Shravasti — such incidents put all madrasas under suspicion. We will investigate every madrasa and take action against those found guilty.”
The discovery of illegal printing machines in madrasas has sparked fears of a targeted campaign against Muslim educational institutions. Of the five accused arrested in the Shravasti case, three are reportedly from the Hindu community, including individuals identified as Shukla and Pandey, raising questions about the selective targeting of madrasas.
Local residents and madrasa authorities have expressed concerns over the government’s stance, emphasising the need for impartiality. Critics argue that such incidents, though serious, should not lead to the generalisation of an entire educational network, especially when other communities have also been implicated.
The scrutiny comes in the wake of judicial interventions regarding madrasa education in Uttar Pradesh. On March 22, 2024, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court declared the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board Act, 2004, unconstitutional, citing a violation of secular principles. However, the Supreme Court stayed this decision on April 5, 2024.
In November 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Act but restricted higher education degrees like ‘Fazil’ and ‘Kamil,’ stating they conflicted with Article 12 of the Constitution.
Uttar Pradesh has approximately 25,000 madrasas, with around 16,000 recognised by the state’s Madrasa Board. Over 8,000 remain unrecognised, often facing challenges in accessing formal educational resources. The board provides higher education degrees, including ‘Kamil’ (bachelor’s) and ‘Fazil’ (master’s), along with a ‘Qari’ diploma certifying Quranic recitation expertise.
This latest crackdown aligns with a broader trend observed in BJP-ruled states. Assam’s government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, previously shut down several madrasas, converting some into formal schools. Critics argue that such actions disproportionately affect Muslim communities and undermine religious education rights.
Community Response and Implications Muslim leaders and educational activists have condemned the blanket suspicion placed on madrasas. “The discovery of illegal activities should be addressed case by case, without vilifying an entire educational tradition,” said a local madrasa board representative.
