A delegation visits Dehradun and meets with madrasa officials
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A delegation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) visited Dehradun in Uttarakhand at the weekend to assess the situation of madrasas that have been shut down in the state. The delegation met with the administrators of the affected madrasas to understand their concerns and the legal implications of their closures.
The delegation, led by the Jamiat General Secretary, Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi, inspected Madrasa Anwariya Hayatul Uloom and Madrasa Abu Bakr Siddiq in Chhota Bharuwala area of the city. These two institutions have completely been sealed, with government locks placed on the main gates. The madrasa administrators shared their difficulties and legal concerns with the delegation. Additionally, the delegation met with the chairman of the Madrasa Board to gain a clearer understanding of the situation.
The Jamiat delegation assured the madrasa administrators that it would take all possible legal and constitutional measures to defend their rights. The delegation emphasised the urgent need to safeguard the educational rights of madrasas. A detailed report on the matter is being prepared, based on which Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani will determine the next course of action.
Maulana Qasmi, who led the delegation, stated that madrasas are fully protected under the Constitution. He highlighted that the Supreme Court recently issued an interim stay against an order by the chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights clearly stating that no madrasas should be closed. “Despite this, 52 madrasas in Uttarakhand have been unjustifiably shut down under flimsy pretexts, which is a matter of serious concern. Even more troubling is the fact that no written notice was provided to madrasa administrators before these closures,” he said.
Maulana Qasmi further emphasised that governments exist to uphold the rule of law, not to harass citizens or deprive them of their rights. Therefore, the Uttarakhand government must immediately reverse its actions.
