The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the operation of the communications issued by child rights body NCPCR urging States to shift students of unrecognised Madrassas to Government schools. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate, appearing for Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, that the communications of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and consequential actions of some of States needed to be stayed.
The Muslim organisation has challenged the action of Uttar Pradesh and Tripura governments directing that students of unrecognised madrassas should be shifted to Government schools. The top court ordered the communications of the NCPCR issued on June 7 and June 25 this year should not be acted upon.
The Court also said the consequential orders of the states shall also remain stayed. It also permitted the Muslim body to make states, other than Uttar Pradesh and Tripura as parties to its petition.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) last week wrote to chief secretaries of all States and Union Territories, recommending that Madrasa boards be "closed down", State funding to Madrasas and Madrasa boards be stopped, and children attending Madrasas be enrolled in "formal schools." The Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind approached the Supreme Court against the directive of the NCPCR.
