By Shishir Prashant PrashantNews
The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Sunday approved a bill to replace the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 which was passed by the former Congress government .
Under the Minority Education Bill 2025, which will be introduced in the monsoon session of the state assembly starting from August 19, besides Muslims, other minority communities in the state – Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi community will also get the status of minority educational institution.
The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun.
Till now, the status of minority educational institution is given only to the educational institutions of the Muslim community in the state, experts said.
When the Act comes into force, the study of Gurumukhi and Pali language will also be possible in recognized minority educational institutions.
This bill provides for the formation of an authority for giving recognition to educational institutions established by minority communities. This authority will work to facilitate and promote educational excellence in these institutions so that the children of the minority class get quality education and their educational development can take place.
Under the bill, recognition of minority educational institution will be granted by the authority only when certain conditions are fulfilled by the applicant. If any condition is violated or the money received from fees, donations, grants or any other funding source is found to be misused, the recognition of that institution can also be terminated.
After the formation of the new Act, the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 will be repealed from July 1, 2026, official sources said.
Reacting to the decision, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat called the BJP narrow-minded and asked why they avoid Urdu words like ‘Madrasa’. Talking to reporters, Rawat said, “BJP leaders are narrow-minded people. Madrasa is an Urdu word and Urdu is a product of Ganga-Jamuni culture. Madrasas have their own history which is connected with the freedom struggle of the country. Why do you avoid the word Urdu?”
When asked if this is an attempt by the government to end madrasas, Rawat said that this is their intention. But, he said, “They will not be able to do this.”
On the other hand, Uttarakhand Madrasa Board President Mufti Shamoon Qazmi welcomed the decision and said, “This will greatly benefit all communities, especially Muslims, in the future. They will get quality education.” He stressed that this will not affect religious education and it will be continued.