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The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Yogi Adityanath, has taken action against unregistered madrasas operating in Muzaffarnagar. Over a dozen such madrasas have received notices, compelling them to produce valid registration documents or face a daily fine of Rs 10,000.
Unregistered Madrasas Face Daily Fine
The Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department has issued notices to unregistered madrasas in Muzaffarnagar, warning them of potential penalties. Uttar Pradesh is home to approximately 24,000 madrasas, with 16,000 being officially recognized, and the remaining 8,000 operating without recognition.
Muzaffarnagar’s unregistered madrasas have been given a three-day deadline to submit the required documents. Failure to comply may result in legal actions in accordance with established regulations. The notice clearly states that unregistered madrasas found in operation will be fined Rs 10,000 per day.
Concerns Raised by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind
The notice has raised concerns within the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, an organization representing Indian Muslims. They consider the notice to be “unlawful.” Maulana Zakir Husain, the secretary of the Uttar Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, believes that the notices unfairly target madrasas and serve as an undue burden. He stated, “The madrasas in the state are being harassed by serving them illegal notices only to target a particular community. The madrasas are providing free education to the students and will not be able to pay the fine of Rs 10,000 per day.”
Scrutiny of Madrasas for Foreign Funding
In Lucknow, approximately 4,000 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh are currently under scrutiny for their receipt of foreign funds. The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with three members to investigate these madrasas, many of which are located along the Indo-Nepal border. The investigation will determine whether funds received by these institutions were used for any illegal activities, including potential links to terrorism or forced religious conversions.
