The BJP government in Uttarakhand, which ordered the closure of 136 madrasas across the state on the basis that they were not registered with the education department, has now directed officials to investigate the sources of funding for these madrasas amid criticism of its religious bias and unfair targeting of Muslim educational institutions.
While community leaders claimed that the madrasas were not given notice before their closure and contested the necessity of registering them under the education department, arguing that these institutions were privately run.
Since March, authorities have taken action against madrasas not registered with the education department or the Madrasa Board, yet many of these institutions operate under the Societies Registration Act.
Despite this, the government has ordered closures, and most affected madrasas are in districts bordering Uttar Pradesh, where officials claim that unregulated institutions pose security concerns. Community representatives, however, believe that these claims are exaggerated and meant to justify the targeting of madrasas.
The sealing drive began in January when the Chief Minister ordered a verification process, and district administrations were tasked with surveying madrasas to assess their financial sources and operational status.
In Udham Singh Nagar, authorities have sealed 64 madrasas, and in Dehradun, they have shut down 44 institutions, while 26 in Haridwar and two in Pauri Garhwal have also been affected. Administrators of these institutions were reportedly not given prior notice, and many argue that the government is bypassing legal procedures.
The action has drawn further criticism as it coincided with Ramadan, and many students were away for the festival, while several institutions had already closed for the academic year. Now, concerns are being raised about whether students will be able to continue their education smoothly, and the Madrasa Board has urged officials to ensure that their right to education is not disrupted.
However, parents fear that students may struggle to integrate into new schools, and the lack of a proper transition plan has created additional uncertainty.
Another major issue is the gap between madrasa education and mainstream schooling, and while Uttar Pradesh has granted equivalence to madrasa qualifications, no such framework exists in Uttarakhand. Education authorities claim they will work towards resolving this, but community leaders worry that students will be left without proper alternatives.
A state-wide inspection was carried out across all 13 districts, yet the findings have not been made public, and the lack of transparency has further fuelled suspicions about the government’s intentions.
While registered madrasas follow state board guidelines, unregistered institutions adhere to curricula prescribed by Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband, and many critics view it as the BJP government being after the Muslim community and their institutions, showing religious bias defying the constitutional values under the pretext of regulations.