On May 17, the Allahabad High Court allowed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to intervene in the case related to whether imparting religious education in government-funded Madrassas violates Articles 14, 25, 26, 29, and 30 of the Constitution of India.
The court raised the issue of religious education being imparted in government-funded Madrassas while hearing a plea filed by Azaj Ahamad who is a teacher in a Madrassa located in Samdaniya Islamia, Shudnipur in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district.
NCPCR Swarupama Chaturvedi’s counsel filed the intervention applications submitted that the education imparted in the Madrassas is not adequate and comprehensive enough, and therefore, the same is against the provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009. The application said, “NCPCR has been in receipt of various complaints which state that the right to education of children in recognised #Madrasa is being violated. The fact of not getting a proper education is a violation of the law of the land and a severe injustice to Children.”
Therefore, the court allowed NCPCR to intervene in the case and noted, “The matter is of wide ramification and some importance and the outcome of this case will affect the education system as well as the rights of the children studying in Madarsas.” Furthermore, the court also appointed Advocate SM Singh Raikwar as amicus curiae to assist the court.
Background
On March 27, the Allahabad High Court sought a response from the Government of India and the Uttar Pradesh State Government on whether imparting religious education in government-funded Madrassas violates Articles 14, 25, 26, 29, and 30 of the Constitution of India.
The court sought a response from the Government of India and the Uttar Pradesh Government to explain “how on Government expense or the funding provided by the Government Exchequer religious education be imparted and whether this could be in violation of Articles 14, 25, 26, 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India.” Furthermore, the Court observed that “It is not in dispute that in Madarsa besides normal curriculum, the religious education is also imparted.”
