Indian top court puts ban on madrasas in Uttar Pradesh on hold

New Dehli: India's Supreme Court on Friday intervened by putting a hold on a lower court's order that effectively banned madrasas (Islamic schools) in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state.

The thousands of students and educators within the system took a sigh of relief.

The ban on the madrassas was imposed just days ahead of the commencement of national elections in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are vying for a third term.

The Supreme Court's action follows a challenge to the March 22 order of the Allahabad High Court, which revoked a 2004 law governing madrasas in Uttar Pradesh. The state, home to one-fifth of India's 240 million Muslims, saw the law scrapped by the High Court, citing violations of constitutional secularism. Additionally, the High Court directed students of these institutions to be transferred to conventional schools.

Quoting news portal Live Law, the Supreme Court expressed the need for further examination of the issues raised in the petitions. The matter is scheduled for hearing in July, with all actions stayed until then, as per lawyers involved in the case.

India's federal election process is slated to conclude in June.

Iftikhar Ahmed Javed, head of the board of madrasa education in Uttar Pradesh, hailed the court's decision as a significant victory. He expressed relief for approximately 1.6 million students, stating concerns regarding their future were alleviated.

During Modi's ten-year tenure, his BJP and associated groups have faced allegations of anti-Islamic rhetoric and vigilantism. Despite these accusations, Modi refuted claims of discrimination against minorities, asserting his government's commitment to the welfare of all citizens.