The recent closure of over 40 madrasas in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad district has sparked distress and protests among hundreds of Muslim families, who say their children have been left without access to basic education. The district administration shuttered the religious schools after declaring them “illegal” as part of a statewide review of madrasa operations initiated by the Yogi Adityanath government.
According to District Magistrate Ashutosh Dwivedi, 120 madrasas were inspected, and 42 were found to be operating without proper documentation or registration. “A report has been sent to the registrar for further action,” Dwivedi stated, adding that investigations into the remaining institutions are ongoing. The administration has hinted that even the 74 currently functional madrasas in the district may soon face scrutiny or closure.
The abrupt shutdowns have left many poor families scrambling. Without alternative schooling options, especially in rural or underserved areas, parents fear their children will be left idle and vulnerable.
“My son was studying the Qur’an and receiving basic education at the madrasa. Now it’s gone, and we have no affordable school nearby,” said Mohammad Shamim, a local resident and father of two. Others, like Rehana Bano, a widow, said the institutions also served as safe spaces and shelters for the underprivileged. “Who will take responsibility if our children fall into the wrong company?” she asked.
Authorities argue the action is rooted in legality, not bias. “Over half of the madrasas we examined lacked registration. Some may have even misused government funds,” said DM Dwivedi. The administration plans to recover funds if any were wrongfully claimed and is verifying whether the institutions enrolled students properly.
Despite the crackdown, officials have not provided a concrete plan for the displaced students. District Minority Welfare Officer Jitendra Kumar confirmed that recovery proceedings could follow against any madrasa found to have illegally benefited from public schemes.
Community members, however, view the move with suspicion and say it unfairly targets Muslim educational institutions. “This sudden crackdown feels more like an attack on our community than a regulatory step,” said activist Irshad Ali. “If these madrasas were unauthorized, why were they allowed to run for years? Why punish the children now?”
Teachers from the closed institutions echoed similar concerns. Maulana Zubair, a madrasa instructor for over a decade, said no prior warning or opportunity to correct paperwork was given. “We feel singled out because we are Muslims. Other community-run schools aren’t facing this treatment,” he said.
Another teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said his institution was teaching over 60 children from economically weaker families. “Now they’re at home doing nothing. What happened to the government’s promise of education for all?”
Human rights groups say this is part of a wider trend in Uttar Pradesh, where madrasas have faced increasing oversight and pressure in recent years, including calls for syllabus reforms and tighter regulations.
“There is a systematic marginalization of madrasa-based education,” said Noor Jahan, a researcher on minority education rights. “Institutions are labeled illegal without due process, shut down, and no support is provided to students. This deepens the existing educational disparity for minority children.”
Parents and community leaders are now planning to approach the district administration to demand either the reopening of madrasas or alternative educational arrangements. Many have called for a more empathetic and structured process.
“We’re not opposing rules,” said Hafiz Abdul Rahman, a senior madrasa head. “But don’t sacrifice our children’s future for administrative failures. Give us time and support to comply — don’t push these children into darkness.”
As the fallout continues, hundreds of children in Farrukhabad remain in limbo, their education disrupted and their futures uncertain. While the state cites legality, those affected believe they are being penalized for their faith and poverty — a crisis not just of policy, but of justice.
