New Delhi, November 5, 2024: In a major ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Act, reversing a previous decision by the Allahabad High Court, which had deemed the Act unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court’s decision brings relief to thousands of students studying in UP’s madrasas. The Allahabad High Court, specifically its Lucknow Bench, had declared the Act in violation of the secular principles of the Constitution, arguing that a state board for religious education is unconstitutional. However, the Supreme Court found that the primary provisions of the Act align with the Constitution.
A three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud stated that the High Court’s ruling was erroneous, affirming that the UP Madrasa Education Board Act of 2004 has a sound constitutional basis. This means that the legal framework supporting madrasa education in UP will continue, providing protection and stability to the existing madrasa system in the state.
The case began with a petition filed by Anshuman Singh Rathore in the Allahabad High Court, which questioned the constitutional legitimacy of the 2004 Act. The High Court, on March 22, declared the Act unconstitutional, arguing that a state-funded madrasa board contravenes secular principles and ordered the integration of madrasa students into the general education system.
Following the High Court ruling, the state government faced pressure to reformulate its approach to religious education. The Supreme Court’s decision, however, has now upheld the madrasa board’s right to oversee madrasa education, allowing madrasas to continue operating within their current legal structure.
While certain provisions were reviewed, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of preserving the Act’s main framework, marking a crucial victory for madrasa advocates in Uttar Pradesh and setting a legal precedent for religious education within the bounds of the Constitution.
