For the first time, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has publicly addressed the sensitive issue of non-Muslim children receiving religious education in madrasas within the state. During a cabinet meeting held at the ministry on Tuesday (August 20) evening, Dr Yadav made it clear that his government will not tolerate madrasas that operate in violation of constitutional provisions. He emphasised that such institutions would be shut down without exception, and strict legal action would be taken against those who fraudulently register Hindu children to receive grants.
Chief Minister Dr Yadav highlighted that the School Education Department has issued directives banning the teaching of religions other than Islam in madrasas. Citing Article 28(3) of the Indian Constitution, he stated that any government funding for madrasas found forcing children to receive religious education contrary to their own faith or participate in worship practices will be discontinued.
Additionally, he assured that formal procedures to revoke the recognition of such madrasas, along with other appropriate legal measures, will be strictly enforced.
This announcement comes in the wake of an investigation initiated by a complaint from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which uncovered that more than 9,000 Hindu children are enrolled in madrasas across the state. Following this revelation, the recognition of 56 madrasas in Sheopur district has already been revoked.
Dr Yadav also announced initiatives aimed at bolstering the state’s anti-corruption mechanisms. The Economic Offenses Wing and Lokayukta units will be expanded, with new offices being established in divisional headquarters that currently lack these facilities. Furthermore, the Chief Minister directed all ministers to conduct monthly visits to their respective districts and to stay overnight during these visits to ensure effective governance and oversight.
Ratlam Madarasa
Recently, a surprise inspection by the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Protection Commission (SCPCR) at a madrasa in Ratlam unveiled numerous violations, including the absence of regular education for the 150 girls enrolled there. The inspection report also noted the lack of proper records, outdated registration of the Education Society, and inadequate resources for sports and other extracurricular activities for the girls.
The investigation revealed that the madrasa had been operating without the necessary registration since 2012 and that the institution was housing 230 girls, many of whom were from other states like Rajasthan, Jhabua, Mandsaur, and Ujjain. Alarmingly, there were no available documents for these girls, and no police verification had been conducted for the employees. The report recommended the immediate closure of the madrasa, citing it as a threat to societal and national interests.
Despite the SCPCR’s findings, the recommendation to close four other madrasas in Ratlam—‘Darul Uloom Arabia Sheeraniya,’ ‘Darul Uloom Gulshan-e-Fatima,’ ‘Gose Arool Gareeb Nawaz Madrasa Biriya Khedi,’ and ‘Darul Uloom Ahle Sunnat Rasay Mustafa and Madrasa’—was not implemented, and these institutions continue to operate. The NCPCR has expressed severe dissatisfaction with the district administration’s handling of the situation.
On Tuesday, NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanoongo criticised the administration’s inaction in the Ratlam case. He pointed out that during the SCPCR’s inspection, cameras were discovered in the rooms of girls at an illegal madrasa, and girls were being brought in from other cities and states without being sent to school, in clear violation of the Constitution.
Kanoongo noted that despite verbal instructions from the Child Commission to seize the DVR containing the camera recordings, the administration had yet to confirm the seizure. He also condemned a local SDM, who allegedly gave a statement in defence of the madrasa, effectively providing it with a clean chit. The NCPCR has since issued a notice to the administration and has recommended that the government provide training on child rights laws to the involved officials.
The Ratlam case, particularly the inspection of ‘Darul Uloom Ayesha Siddika Lilbanat’ on July 31 by SCPCR member Dr Nivedita Sharma, has sparked widespread concern. Dr Sharma uncovered significant irregularities at the madrasa and questioned the local administration’s failure to act on these issues for years. She called for the closure of all institutions operating illegally without adhering to legal norms and insisted on strict action against them.
Following the inspection, under instructions from the District Collector, ADM Dr Shalini Srivastava and other officials conducted a follow-up visit to the madrasa three days later. By that time, the madrasa operators had removed the CCTV cameras from the girls’ rooms and made some improvements to the facility. However, they failed to provide the required documentation under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, or recognition from the Madrasa Board. The NCPCR Chairman expressed his frustration with the local administration’s response, underscoring the need for better training of officials on child rights issues.
As Madhya Pradesh moves forward with its crackdown on illegal madrasas, the Ratlam case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and controversies that can arise when authorities fail to act decisively. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav’s recent statements indicate a new resolve to address these issues, with a clear message that violations of constitutional provisions will not be tolerated.
