Supreme Court Upholds Constitutional Validity of UP Madrasa Act, Overturns Allahabad HC Ruling

Nov 5, 2024, 06:54 AM

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, upheld the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Act of 2004, overturning the Allahabad High Court's March 22 verdict that had struck down the Act and ordered the state to relocate students to other schools. The top court ruled that the Act does not violate the principle of secularism and that the state has the authority to regulate madrasa education standards. The decision brings relief to approximately 1.3 million students studying in madrasas across Uttar Pradesh. The court, however, clarified that madrasas cannot grant degrees of higher education as that would violate the University Grants Commission Act. The verdict was welcomed by Muslim leaders, including Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, who expressed joy over the decision.