Overview
- The Lucknow bench directed that the seal on Madarsa Ahle Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza be removed within 24 hours of producing the certified order.
- The court set aside a May 1, 2025 directive by the Shrawasti District Minority Welfare Officer that had ordered the madrasa’s closure for being unrecognised.
- The ruling clarified that the institution remains ineligible for government grants until recognised, its students need not be allowed in Board exams, and state benefits cannot be claimed on its qualifications.
- Justice Subhash Vidyarthi relied on Supreme Court precedent classifying minority institutions, noting Article 30(1) protection for those seeking neither aid nor recognition, which the petitioner asserted applied here.
- The court referenced Regulation 13 of the 2016 Uttar Pradesh madrasa rules, observing it denies grants to unrecognised institutions but contains no authority to halt their operations.