Minority status to non-Muslim educational institutions: Find out key features of new Uttarakhand bill

The Uttarakhand Cabinet has decided to introduce the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025 in the upcoming assembly session that starts on August 19.

 

This bill will provide for granting the status of minority educational institution to other minority communities in addition to the Muslim community.

 

With the implementation of the bill, the study of Gurumukhi and Pali languages ​​will also be recognised within the ambit of minorities educational institutions.

 

When the new bill is in place, the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019 will stand repealed. 

 

Till now the status of minority educational institution was given only to the Muslim community. Under the proposed bill, other minority communities like Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis will also be able to get such recognition for their educational institutions.

 

This will be the first such Act in the country which aims to establish a transparent process for granting recognition to educational institutions established by minority communities in the state. It will also ensure quality and excellence in education.

 

The main features of the bill are as below:

 

1.  Formation of Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority which will have the power to grant minority educational institution.

 

2. Any educational institution established by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi community will be required to obtain recognition from the Authority to get the status of a minority educational institution.

 

3. Protection of Institutional Rights: The Act will not interfere in the establishment and operation of minority educational institutions, but will ensure that the quality and excellence of education is maintained.

 

4. Mandatory Conditions: To get recognition, the educational institution must be registered under the Society Act, Trust Act or Company Act. Land, bank accounts and other properties should be in the name of the institution. Recognition can be withdrawn in case of financial irregularities, lack of transparency or activities against religious and social harmony.

 

5. Monitoring and Examination: The authority will ensure that education is provided as per the standards set by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education and the evaluation of students is fair and transparent.

 

The bill is a bid to offer minority status to educational institutions through a transparent process. It will also offer protection to the constitutional rights of minorities while making quality education available to them.

 

The state government will have the power to monitor the functioning of the institutions and issue necessary instructions from time to time.

India