SC rejects NCPCR's demand; Madrasas will continue receive funding and children won't transferred to government schools
NCPCR had issued a letter urging the states to transfer students of unrecognized madrasas to government schools. Today, the Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of this letter of NCPCR. The apex court ordered that action should not be taken on the communication of NCPCR issued on June 7 and June 25 this year.
On Monday, the Supreme Court stopped the NCPCR's proposals for child rights. In this case, the state will also keep subsidizing madrasas that do not adhere to the Right to Education Act. Additionally, the NCPCR's recommendation for transferring students from unrecognized madrasas to government schools was rejected by the SC.
Today, a panel consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Mishra announced a decision. The SC also heard arguments from the senior lawyer representing the Muslim organization Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, which stated that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights' (NCPCR) statement and the subsequent measures of certain states must be stopped.
The Muslim body has assailed the order issued by the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Tripura to transfer students of unrecognized madrasas to government schools. The apex court ordered that the communication of NCPCR issued on June 7 and June 25 this year shall not be acted upon. The resulting orders of the states will also remain suspended, the court said. SC allowed the Muslim organisation to array states other than Uttar Pradesh and Tripura as respondents to their petition.
Recently, NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanungo said that he never asked to close madrassas. Rather, he recommended stopping the funds given by the government to these institutions as these institutions are depriving poor Muslim children of education.
Kanungo said that the expectations are for Muslim children to receive religious education rather than secular education from poor backgrounds. He said he advocates equal opportunities for education for all children.
In fact, the NCPCR had expressed serious concern over the functioning of madrasas in its recent report. Action was demanded based on this. However, many leaders, including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, reacted sharply to this report, accusing the ruling BJP of selectively targeting minority institutions.
