The Supreme Court of India is set to deliver its verdict on November 5 regarding the Uttar Pradesh madrasa law, following the challenge to the Allahabad High Court’s judgment that declared the law unconstitutional. The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, reserved the judgment on October 22 after hearing eight petitions, including the lead petition filed by Anjum Kadari.
The Allahabad High Court, in its March 22 ruling, had declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, unconstitutional, stating that it violated the principle of secularism. The court directed the state government to integrate madrasa students into the formal education system. However, in April, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court’s decision, giving relief to the 17 lakh madrasa students who would have been affected by the ruling.
During the hearings, CJI Chandrachud emphasized that secularism in India entails a “live and let live” approach. He highlighted the importance of regulating madrasas, noting that the nation’s composite culture, which has developed over centuries, could not be ignored by creating isolated environments for minority groups. The Supreme Court also expressed concern about the potential consequences of quashing the law, suggesting that such a decision could lead to madrasa institutions remaining unregulated.
In response to questions from the bench, the Uttar Pradesh government affirmed its stance that the law should not be invalidated, arguing that it was necessary to regulate madrasas to ensure they met basic educational standards. The government stressed that the law did not undermine religious instruction but sought to provide a structured framework for madrasa education.
The court’s deliberations have underscored the tension between upholding secularism and recognizing the importance of religious instruction. While CJI Chandrachud reiterated that religious teachings are not inherently problematic, he also cautioned against allowing such institutions to remain unregulated, which could perpetuate division within society.
The verdict is highly anticipated, as it will have significant implications for the future of madrasa education in Uttar Pradesh and may set a precedent for how the balance between secularism and religious education is navigated in India.
