Uttarakhand authorities seal madrasas lacking official accreditation

The Uttarakhand government has intensified its crackdown on madrasas operating without proper accreditation. In Rudrapur, district administration officials sealed the Jamiyatul Hasnat madrasa, managed by Maulana Mufti Mujib, and another institution belonging to Zahid Raza, citing a lack of mandatory recognition from the Minority Education Authority.

Following the dissolution of the state's Madrasa Board, the government established the Minority Education Authority. Under new regulations, all madrasas in the state must obtain recognition from both this authority and the Uttarakhand Education Board. Dr. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Secretary of the Minority Department, stated that while 452 madrasas were previously registered under the old board, institutions failing to follow the new mandatory procedures will face closure.

In the Udham Singh Nagar district, officials report that out of 118 operating madrasas, five have already been closed and approximately 60 have yet to apply for recognition. About 200 applications have been received so far, prompting the department to conduct spot surveys to verify documents and institutional status. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reiterated that all institutions within the state must strictly adhere to legal and regulatory frameworks.