The Assam State Jamiat Ulama is all set to knock the doors of the Court, in a bid to challenge the decision of the Assam Government to convert madrasas in the State into regular schools.
The Jamiat Ulama has said that it will legally challenge the Government’s decision if the proposed bill to ‘shut-down’ madrasas, which is to be tabled in the winter session of the Assembly, gets passed.
On December 14, Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced, “The word High Madrasa will be removed and renamed as high schools and colleges. Theological course (Quran course) will also be stopped from April 1, 2021”.
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The Assam Government in a bid to ‘secularise’ school education in the State, has approved repealing of provisions in Madrasa and Sanskrit Tols Act.
Repealing of provisions in the Madrasa and Sanskrit Tols Act will essentially mean end of religious teachings in Government-run Madrasas and Sanskrit Tols.
If the proposed bill gets passed in the Assembly, it will impact 141 high madrasas, 542 madrasas and 97 Sanskrit tols.
However, Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified that the move would in no way affect the functioning and imparting of religious education in private madrasas and Sanskrit Tols.
Also read: Assam Government to ‘secularise’ school education, Madrasas and Sanskrit Tols will cease to exist
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Jamiat Ulama also met Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and submitted a memorandum seeking probe into the allegations against AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal-owned Ajmal Foundation receiving funds from foreign organisations with terror links.
“If the Ajmal Foundation is indulging in any irregularities we invite you to install an inquiry to find the real truth,” Jamiat Ulama said in its memorandum.