Supreme Court restrains government from acting on NCPCR's orders regarding madrasas
New Delhi: On Monday, October 21, the Supreme Court restrained both the Union Government and State Governments from acting upon the communications issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) concerning the withdrawal of recognition of madrasas that do not comply with the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The Court also halted the inspections of madrasas based on NCPCR’s directives.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra issued this interim order while hearing a writ petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, an Islamic clerics' body, challenging the NCPCR's actions.
The controversy began on June 7, 2024, when the NCPCR directed the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh to withdraw recognition from madrasas that did not comply with the RTE Act. This was followed by another communication on June 25, 2024, asking the Ministry of Education to instruct all States and Union Territories to inspect madrasas with UDISE Codes and revoke recognition from those non-compliant with the RTE Act.
Subsequent actions included a June 26, 2024, directive from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary instructing District Collectors to investigate all government-aided and recognised madrasas in the state that admit non-Muslim children. A similar directive was issued by the Tripura Government on August 28, 2024. The Union Government also wrote to all States/UTs on July 10, 2024, urging compliance with the NCPCR's instructions.
Challenging these orders as a violation of the religious rights of minorities under Article 30 of the Constitution, the petitioners approached the Supreme Court. The Court, while issuing notice, directed that the NCPCR’s communications dated June 7 and June 25, 2024, and the corresponding actions by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary and the Governments of India and Tripura, shall not be acted upon until further orders.
Additionally, the bench granted the petitioner liberty to implead all States and Union Territories in the petition following a request by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising.
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Five crushed to death after truck ploughs into tent in Kerala
Thrissur (Kerala) (PTI): At least five people, including two children, were killed and as many persons injured when a truck ploughed into the roadside tent where they were sleeping in this central Kerala district early on Tuesday, police said.
The victims, nomads living in tents set up along the highway, were struck by the truck on a national highway in Nattika, under the Valapad police station limits, at 4.30 am, they said.
The injured have been admitted to Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital, with the condition of two individuals reported as serious, police said.
Among the deceased are two children, aged one-and-a-half and four years. Two women were also killed.
The driver and cleaner of the vehicle have been taken into custody, police added.
