CJI: Madrasa religious instruction cannot be ‘wished away’

• The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of preserving India’s history of religious instruction.

• The court argued that religious instruction is not unique to Muslims but is present among various cultures and religions.

• The court emphasized the need for mainstream education to prevent ghettoisation and promote unity.

• The Supreme Court’s observations were made during a challenge to the Allahabad High Court’s decision to strike down the Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board Act, 2004.

• The court argued that religious instruction has never been anathema in India and that the state should regulate institutions run by religious or linguistic minorities to maintain education excellence.