New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday confirmed the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, overturning an earlier ruling by the Allahabad High Court that deemed the law unconstitutional.
Delivering the verdict, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud stated that the Act aligns with the State’s duty to ensure educational standards without infringing on secularism. However, the court clarified that provisions governing higher education for fazil and kamil degrees conflict with the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act and, in this limited aspect, are invalid.
The bench, which included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized that the Act allows the State to regulate educational standards while respecting the independence of madrasas in their daily administration. “The Act upholds the State’s role to guarantee quality education without interfering in madrasas’ internal administration,” the court noted.
The Supreme Court’s decision follows a hearing held on October 22, where the Uttar Pradesh government defended the Act. Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj argued that the High Court had erred in striking down the entire law, stressing the need for regulatory oversight to maintain educational standards across institutions.
This verdict underscores the balance between educational regulation and religious autonomy, reinforcing the State’s power to prescribe standards while respecting the constitutional framework.
