136 ‘illegal’ madrasas sealed in Uttarakhand: Report

The Uttarakhand government has sealed 136 allegedly illegal madrasas across the state claiming that they were not registered with the education department or madrasa board, reported The Indian Express.

The newspaper cited government estimates to suggest that the state had approximately 450 registered madrasas, while an additional 500 were functioning without recognition from the two departments. However, these institutions are being operated under the Societies Registration Act.

In many parts of the Islamic world, a madrasa is an institution that imparts education – secular, or religious. In the Indian subcontinent, however, the word “madrasa” has evolved to refer solely to Islamic seminaries.

“Action against illegal madrasas, unauthorised shrines, and encroachments will continue,” The Indian Express quoted from a government communique. “Unregistered madrasas have been reported in towns bordering Uttar Pradesh, and such unauthorised institutions pose a serious security concern.”

The sealed institutions include 64 madrasas in Udham Singh Nagar, 44 in Dehradun, 26 in Haridwar and two in Pauri Garhwal, Times of India reported.

On Monday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also directed officials to probe the sources of funding for these institutions, The Indian Express reported.

“District administrations have been directed to verify madrasa operators, students enrolled, and examine the sources of their funding,” The Times of India quoted an unidentified official as saying.

“For a large-scale drive like this, the government needs to pass...

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