Unseal Madrasas, A Victory for Justice: Mehmood Madni

Allahabad High Court Lucknow Bench orders to unseal Madrasas in Shravasti

A Victory for Justice, and for Constitution,” says Maulana Mahmood Madani

New Delhi/Lucknow, August 21, 2025: In a landmark judgment against the Uttar Pradesh Government’s anti-madrasa actions, the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, today ordered the immediate reopening of 30 religious madrasas in Shravasti that had been arbitrarily sealed by state authorities.

The Court also lifted all restrictions on academic activities. The ruling was delivered by Justice Pankaj Bhatia after a comprehensive hearing of case (WRIC No. 5521/2025).

The petition was filed under the instructions of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind President Maulana Mahmood Madani and argued by a legal team comprising Senior Advocate Prashant Chandra, Advocate Aviral Raj Singh, and Advocate Ali Moeed.

The petitioners challenged the government’s notices that had prohibited religious instruction and sealed the institutions, stressing that no opportunity for hearing was granted before such drastic and unconstitutional measures were taken.

Earlier, on June 7, 2025, the High Court had stayed the proposed demolition of these madrasas, observing that all notices bore the same reference number—demonstrating administrative arbitrariness. The bulldozer actions and unilateral measures in Shravasti had sparked widespread alarm, creating fear among madrasa administrators across the region.

Responding to this crisis, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind maintained close coordination with madrasa representatives and, on May 25, 2025, filed a writ petition on behalf of 26 institutions.

Madrasa Muin-ul-Islam and others were key petitioners against the State of Uttar Pradesh. The coordination between madrasas and the legal team was facilitated by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind General Secretary Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi, Jamiat Ulama Etawah President Maulana Tariq Shamsi, Maulana Junaid Ahmad, and Jamiat Ulama Shravasti General Secretary Maulana Abdul Mannan Qasmi.

Welcoming the court’s ruling, Maulana Mahmood Madani said: “This verdict is not only a safeguard for madrasas but also a victory for justice and the Constitution.

Madrasas are the backbone of both the country and the community. They provide free education to underprivileged children and nurture them into upright human beings and responsible citizens.”

He added: “The government’s mala fide actions are completely unacceptable. The Constitution guarantees us the right to impart religious education, and any government that seeks to take away this right stands in direct violation of the Constitution. Maulana Madani extended his heartfelt congratulations to the madrasa administrators and Jamiat’s legal team for this significant achievement.