After Shutting Down 136 Unregistered Madrasas, Uttarakhand CM Dhami Orders Probe Into Islamic Institutions' Funding

After the closure of 136 madrasas in Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister (CM), Pushkar Singh Dhami, instructed officials on Monday (24 March) to investigate the source of the institutions' funding, Indian Express reported.

Since March, measures have been implemented against 136 unregistered madrasas by the education department and the Madrasa Board. As per the government's calculations, there are approximately 450 madrasas that are officially registered, while 500 are functioning without acknowledgment from these two departments.

“Action against illegal madrasas, unauthorised shrines, and encroachments will continue. Unregistered madrasas have been reported in towns bordering Uttar Pradesh, and such unauthorised institutions pose a serious security concern,” a government communication was quoted by IE.

In January, the CM initiated a verification campaign, prompting district administrations to conduct surveys of madrasas to determine various factors, such as their funding sources. According to officials, the government has shut down 64 madrasas in Udham Singh Nagar, 44 in Dehradun, 26 in Haridwar, and two in Pauri Garhwal.

Madrasa Board chairperson Mufti Shamoom Qasmi has urged the administration to transfer the children from the sealed madrasas to schools and registered madrasas nearby.

“We will look into how many children study here after the report on the drive is submitted. The children are entitled to the right to education and we will make sure it is not violated,” he was quoted as saying by IE.

Qasmi has also assured that madrasa students will also get an equivalent educational qualification, like what was done in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. “A set of guidelines have been formed, which will bring the congruence. The Education Board headquartered in Ramnagar will resolve this and accord recognition,” he said.

State-recognized madrasas adhere to the educational boards designated for madrasa education, whereas unrecognised madrasas follow the curriculum established by larger seminaries, such as Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband.