Uttarakhand

• 17 Mar 2025

Uttarakhand Government Seals Multiple Madrasas

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand government has sealed 52 madrasas across the state. Muslim organizations have criticized the crackdown on minority religious institutions. 

 Key Points 

• Madrasas Sealed Across the State: 
  • Government officials cited illegal and unauthorized construction as the primary reason. 
  • Some institutions were found unregistered and operating without recognition. 
  • The identification drive against minority institutions began in January 2024 following orders from the State Chief Minister. 
    • The CM reiterated the commitment to act against illegal construction and encroachment. 
• Statewide Crackdown on Illegal Encroachments: 
  • In 2023, the government launched a statewide drive against illegal encroachments on forest land. 
  • Over 450 Mazars (minority religious structures) and 50 temples were demolished across Uttarakhand as part of the campaign. 

 Madrasas 

• Madrasa is an Arabic word for an educational institution. 
• Initially, mosques served as educational institutions in early Islam, but by the 10th century, madrasas evolved into distinct entities for both religious and secular learning in the Islamic world. 
• The earliest madrasas were found in Khorasan and Transoxania (modern eastern and northern Iran, central Asia, and Afghanistan), with larger institutions providing housing for students, especially those from poor backgrounds. 
• Recognized madrasas are under state boards; unrecognized ones follow curricula from major seminaries like Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama and Darul Uloom Deoband. 

 Encroachment 

• It is the unauthorised use or occupation of someone else’s property. This can occur on abandoned or unused spaces if the legal owner is not actively involved in its upkeep. It is important for property owners to be aware of the legal steps to take and their rights in such cases. 
• Urban encroachment refers to the unauthorised occupation or use of land or property within urban areas. 
• This could include illegal construction, squatting, or any other form of occupation without proper permission or legal rights. 
  • Land encroachment, as defined by Section 441 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, is the act of unlawfully entering someone else’s property without permission to commit an offence, threaten possession of the property, or stay on the land uninvited.