DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has ended the long-standing Jumma (Friday) holiday at madrasas recognised as schools, replacing it with the usual Sunday weekly break.
The change is part of a wider move by the state government to bring minority educational institutions under the rules and academic standards prescribed by the Education Department and the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority.
The move follows the abolition of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board and the introduction of a new framework for minority educational institutions. The system covers institutions run by Muslim communities as well as those serving Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi communities.
A government spokesperson said 452 madrasas had previously been recognised by the state Madrasa Board. Of the institutions that have applied under the new system, 76 have so far received school recognition, while 114 applications are being processed by the Education Department.
Dr Surjeet Singh Gandhi, chairperson of the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority, said the 76 recognised institutions are spread across four districts, with the highest number, 44, in Haridwar, followed by 24 in Udham Singh Nagar, six in Dehradun and two in Nainital.
“All recognised institutions must follow the rules laid down by the Education Department and the authority, including the weekly holiday schedule,” Gandhi said. Institutions cannot operate without the necessary recognition and permissions, he added.
Addressing concerns about Friday prayers, Gandhi said the authority had consulted members of the community about prayer timings.
“Whenever a new system is introduced, people may face some difficulty. We sought information from community experts about the timings of the five daily prayers. The afternoon prayer is generally between 1 pm and 2.30 pm, though timings vary from mosque to mosque,” he said.
He said schools run by the Education Department operate from 8 am to 1 pm and argued that the schedule would not prevent students or staff from attending the afternoon prayer.
“There will be no disruption to the afternoon prayer. The arrangement of a Friday holiday will no longer continue,” Gandhi said.
Dr Parag Madhukar Dhakate, secretary of the Minority Welfare Department, told the newspaper that the state had sealed 250 unauthorised madrasas in the first phase of its action. The government said the institutions were not registered with the Madrasa Board either. An inquiry also found that children from other states had been brought there to study, Dhakate said. The department’s statement did not provide details on the institutions’ current status or the next steps in the cases.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government was committed to ensuring equal opportunities and quality education for all children. He said the rules applied by the Education Department would also govern madrasas operating as recognised schools, and that institutions violating the requirements would not be allowed to function.
Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Dr Pratima Singh criticised the government, saying the Friday-holiday change was unjustified after the Madrasa Board’s abolition.
“Why does the BJP raise madrasas, mosques and shrines around elections instead of addressing the crumbling education system?” she asked.