The Supreme Court has put a hold on the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights' directive to discontinue funding for Madrasa Boards, following a plea filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind. The plea argued that the NCPCR's action was discriminatory and unconstitutional, and violated several fundamental rights. The Commission, which is responsible for protecting children's rights across India, had recommended that non-Muslim children enrolled in madrasas be moved to mainstream schools under the RTE Act of 2009.
NCPCR's Directive on Madrasa Boards: A Controversial Move
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) recently issued a directive to discontinue funding for Madrasa Boards. The directive sparked controversy, leading to a plea filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, which prompted the Supreme Court to put a hold on the decision.
Background
In India, Madrasa Boards are responsible for regulating and managing Islamic religious schools known as Madrasas. These schools typically provide education in religious subjects alongside traditional academic subjects. The NCPCR's directive was based on concerns that non-Muslim children enrolled in Madrasas were not receiving a holistic education that met the standards set by the Right to Education Act (RTE) of 2009.
NCPCR's Arguments
The NCPCR argued that the RTE Act mandates that all children between the ages of 6 and 14 receive free and compulsory education in mainstream schools. It claimed that Madrasa Boards were violating this mandate by enrolling non-Muslim children who were not receiving a comprehensive education.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind's Plea
Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, a representative body of Indian Muslims, filed a plea challenging the NCPCR's directive. The plea argued that the action was discriminatory and unconstitutional, violating the fundamental rights of Muslim children to receive education in their religious institution of choice.
Supreme Court's Intervention
The Supreme Court put a hold on the NCPCR's directive until further orders could be passed. The court ruled that the plea raised important questions regarding the rights of Muslim children and the role of the NCPCR in regulating religious education.
FAQs
1. Why did the NCPCR issue the directive? The NCPCR issued the directive out of concern that non-Muslim children in Madrasas were not receiving a holistic education.
2. What is the Right to Education Act (RTE)? The RTE Act is a law that mandates free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 6 and 14 in India.
3. What was Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind's argument against the directive? Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind argued that the directive violated Muslim children's rights to receive religious education in their preferred institutions.
4. What is the current status of the directive? The Supreme Court has put a hold on the NCPCR's directive pending further orders.
5. What are the implications of the Supreme Court's intervention? The Supreme Court's intervention suggests that the court recognizes the importance of protecting the rights of Muslim children and the role of Madrasa Boards in providing religious education.
Police sources have revealed that the Delhi Police is investigating a possible Khalistani link in the blast near a CRPF school in Rohini on Monday. This comes as a response to a group claiming responsibility for the explosion, as the police have sought details from messaging app Telegram. The blast caused damage to property but no injuries were reported, with an FIR mentioning the discovery of a "white powder" and CCTV footage of a suspect being recovered.
The 65th state-level Police Commemoration Day was observed in Chandigarh, where Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav paid homage to the bravehearts who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation. Addressing the gathering, DGP Yadav highlighted the bravery and courage of the Punjab Police, and their efforts in maintaining peace and rooting out militancy. He also discussed the measures being taken to combat street crime and drug sales, and assured support to the families of martyrs.
The Supreme Court is set to address a variety of significant cases on Monday, October 21. These include cases involving the Delhi government's appeals related to appointments in the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, as well as pleas filed by figures such as Arvind Kejriwal and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. Notable topics to be addressed include defamation proceedings against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and challenges to the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act. The Court will also consider a plea to remove the words "secular" and "socialist" from the Preamble of the Constitution and to enforce previous orders on firecracker regulations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the inauguration ceremony of the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Sankara Eye Hospital in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. In his address, he criticized previous governments for neglecting eastern Uttar Pradesh and emphasized on the potential for Varanasi to emerge as a major healthcare hub. With the new eye hospital, Modi hopes to blend spirituality and modernity to serve the healthcare needs of all, from the elderly to children.
In a speech given in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of breaking away from nepotism in politics and announced plans to bring 1 lakh young people without any political connections into the field. He congratulated Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on the state's development and announced various projects worth 6,700 crore to further improve infrastructure and job opportunities in Varanasi. The PM also highlighted the advancements in healthcare in Varanasi, including the inauguration of the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital and the expansion of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Two migrant labourers from a company constructing the Z-Morh tunnel in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, were killed and several others were injured in a suspected militant attack at their camp. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack and the injured have been taken to hospital. The tunnel project aims to provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar and Sonamarg and falls in a district with little militant presence. BJP has also made a surprise change to its candidate for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Assembly seat.
According to the Election Commission of India data, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury lost to TMC candidate Yusuf Pathan in Baharampur constituency by around 85,022 votes. The result highlights a shift in political power in West Bengal, with the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance securing 43 out of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats compared to the NDA's 36. Prime Minister Modi's visit to the ancient Nalanda University ruins also signifies the growing importance of Bihar, which holds significant political weight in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its candidates for the upcoming byelections in four Punjab Assembly constituencies. Harinder Singh Dhaliwal, a close friend of AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, has been chosen to contest from Barnala. Dhaliwal, who holds a BTech degree and comes from a farming family, has been actively campaigning for Meet Hayer's past elections. This announcement has stirred up disagreements within the party, with Barnala district president Gurdeep Singh Bathh expressing dissatisfaction with the decision of promoting "dynastic politics".
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revealed its first list of 99 candidates for the #MaharashtraElection2024, with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis set to contest from Nagpur South West, and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule from Kamthi. Other notable nominees include minister Girish Mahajan running from Jamner, and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur. This move sets the stage for a fierce competition as the party prepares to defend its hold in the state.