In a significant relief to approximately 17 lakh students across 23,500 madarsas in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of the Madarsa Education Act 2004, overturning an Allahabad High Court order from March that declared the Act “unconstitutional” on the grounds of secularism. The High Court had previously directed the state to integrate madarsa students into the formal education system.
A Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, ruled that the Allahabad High Court had erred in its judgment. The Supreme Court highlighted that the Act is essential in standardizing madarsa education, allowing the state to regulate educational standards without interfering in the daily management of madarsas.
While supporting the Act’s purpose of protecting minority rights in education, the Supreme Court clarified that degrees like ‘fazil’ and ‘kamil’ beyond Class 12 cannot be recognized under the UGC Act. The court emphasized that the Act aligns with the principles of secularism, stating that the inclusion of religious instruction alone does not render a law unconstitutional.
Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked that secularism embodies a “live and let live” philosophy, reinforcing the importance of diversity in education. Today’s decision ensures that madarsas in UP can continue to operate while upholding quality standards and respecting religious inclusivity in education.
