Uttarakhand government seals 20 unrecognised madrasas

The Uttarakhand government has intensified a crackdown on unrecognised madrasas across the state, resulting in the closure of 20 institutions. Authorities have sealed 17 madrasas, while three others voluntarily submitted written undertakings to cease operations after failing to meet regulatory standards.

This enforcement follows the state government’s repeal of the 2016 Madrasa Board Education Act and the establishment of the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education (USAME). Under the new regulatory framework, institutions must affiliate with the Uttarakhand Board of School Education or District Chief Education Offices and adopt the National Curriculum Framework as prescribed by the National Education Policy 2020.

Significant actions were reported in Dehradun and Haldwani. In Dehradun, Madrasa Jamia-Tus-Salam Al-Islamia was sealed, while Madrasa Dar-e-Arqam and Madrasa Darul Uloom Rahimia discontinued classes voluntarily. In Haldwani, authorities sealed Madrasa Jamia Nooria Barkate Amina and another facility in Banbhoolpura after management failed to produce valid recognition documents. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has mandated that all educational centers comply with mandatory registration and academic benchmarks to ensure quality education.