U'khand madrasa board scraps Kamil and Fazil courses after SC ruling

FOLLOWING the Supreme Court ruling declaring the Kamil (undergraduate) and Fazil (postgraduate) degrees awarded to Muslim students by madrasas unconstitutional, the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board lost no time deciding to discontinue the courses and refund the students' fees. Incidentally, the government has taken a strong stand against madrasas and recently identified 190 such illegal institutions and ordered their closure.

- NARENDRA SETHI

After hearing a case from UP, the Supreme Court said degrees conferred by madrasa boards are unconstitutional and violate UGC regulations. It pointed out that only recognised universities can award such degrees. While opinions over the verdict are divided among Muslim organisations, it raises significant concerns about the future of approximately 1,500 students enrolled in these courses across 415 registered madrasas in the state. A spokesperson of an affected madrasa said, "This ruling has cast a shadow of uncertainty ov