India: Allahabad HC questions UP order shutting unrecognised madrasa
India: Allahabad HC questions UP order shutting unrecognised madrasa
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The Allahabad High Court, the principal court of jurisdiction for the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP), has questioned the UP-government’s decision to shut down an unrecognised madrasa, ruling that lack of official recognition alone does not justify closure.
On January 16, 2026, the Lucknow Bench ordered that the seal placed on Madarsa Ahle Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza in Shrawasti district be removed within 24 hours of producing a certified copy of the court’s order. The madrasa had been ordered to close on May 1, 2025, by the district Minority Welfare Officer on the grounds that it was operating without recognition.
A bench led by Justice Subhash Vidyarthi observed that under the Uttar Pradesh Non-Governmental Arabic and Persian Madarsa Recognition, Administration and Services Regulation, 2016, non-recognition only disqualifies an institution from receiving government grants and does not mandate closure.
Counsel for the madrasa argued that the authorities misapplied the law, noting that the institution was not seeking any state funding. The court held that the Minority Welfare Officer lacked statutory authority to order closure solely due to non-recognition.
The state has been asked to file its response, and the court will further examine whether administrative actions against madrasas comply with existing regulations.
