November 5, 2024: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, setting aside the Allahabad High Court's earlier judgment that had declared the law unconstitutional.

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the importance of aligning madrasa education with modern academic standards. The Court stressed the Uttar Pradesh government's responsibility in ensuring that madrasas meet the required educational criteria while safeguarding the rights of students.

While upholding the law, the Supreme Court clarified that madrasas in the state would not be authorized to confer degrees in higher education, as this was found to be in violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act. The ruling further directed that the state authorities should facilitate the transition of madrasa students to other educational institutions, where necessary.

"We have upheld the validity of the UP Madarsa Education Act, as a statute can only be struck down if the state lacks legislative competence," CJI Chandrachud remarked, addressing the constitutional challenge to the law. The Court noted that the purpose of the Act was to standardize the level of education across madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, aligning them with contemporary educational norms.

The Supreme Court's judgment came after a series of petitions challenging the March 2024 verdict by the Allahabad High Court, which had struck down the Act. The petitioners, including Anjum Kadari, had argued that the law was unconstitutional and violated fundamental rights.