Haridwar madrassas sealed; HC seeks affidavits promising no activity

Dehradun: Uttarakhand high court on Tuesday directed operators of unregistered madrassas in Haridwar to submit an affidavit to the district minority welfare officer confirming they would not conduct religious, educational or prayer activities until recognised by govt. The court said the state would determine the future use of the now-vacant premises. Justice Ravindra Maithani issued the directive while hearing petitions filed by operators of Jamia Rajbia Faiz-ul Quran, Darul Quran, Nuru-ul Huda Education Trust, Sirajul Quran Arabia Rasdiya Society and Darul Uloom Sabria Sirajia Society. They said the district administration sealed their premises without following due process, even though the institutions functioned as educational centres. One of the petitioners said, "We are not running religious centres illegally. We have applied for registration but are waiting because the madrassa board has not acted." The petitioners requested that the seals be removed temporarily until the board processed their applications. The state said these institutions were running without valid registration while conducting religious and educational activities. It clarified that only unregistered, privately run madrassas had been sealed. Recognised madrassas continued to function and receive grants from govt. A state counsel told the court, "The sealed madrassas were conducting religious teaching and prayers without registration. This violates the law."Over 135 unregistered madrassas across Uttarakhand, including 79 in Haridwar, were sealed earlier this year under the Uttarakhand Madrassa Education Board Act, 2023, which requires all madrassas to register. Officials said the sealing followed inspections but several operators claimed they were not given notice or heard before action was taken.In a previous hearing, HC allowed the unsealing of four madrassas—one in Dehradun and three in Haridwar—on the condition that the operators submitted undertakings not to resume any activity until registration was completed. The court said only fully recognised institutions could operate, and no interim relief would be granted otherwise.