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.
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