A court in south Kashmir’s Shopian district has allowed Siraj-ul-Aloom, a prominent religious seminary, to resume its educational activities, months after the institution was declared an “unlawful entity” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) the Indian Express reported. Passing an interim order on a petition filed by the seminary, District Judge Shopian Mehmood Ahmad Chowdhary directed that the institution be reopened and its assets restored pending a final decision in the case.
The court also ordered the constitution of a committee to oversee the functioning of the institution. The panel will include a representative of the district administration, an official from the education department and a “reputable person” from the district, the Indian Express further reported. Advocate S M Iqbal, who represented Siraj-ul-Aloom, said the court’s immediate concern was to ensure that the students’ education was not disrupted.
“It was an interim direction. The court said that the education of the students shouldn’t suffer,” Iqbal said and Indian Express quoted. He added that the order also covered the restoration of the institution’s assets, including its hostel and orchard, until the petition is finally decided.
Siraj-ul-Aloom was among institutions affected by government action against schools and educational establishments associated with the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT). It was the first seminary in Jammu and Kashmir to be declared an unlawful entity under the UAPA.
The government’s action followed its takeover of 58 schools described as being “affiliated” with FAT. The move drew criticism from political leaders in the Valley, who described it as an attack on the region’s identity and dignity.
Located in south Kashmir, Siraj-ul-Aloom had operated a school offering both religious instruction and mainstream education. Before the government action, the institution was recognised by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and offered classes up to Class 12.
The seminary was established in 1998 after local saint Peer Gull Mohammad Sofi donated around six hectares of land for the institution. Although some individuals associated with the institution had links to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, the school itself was administered separately through the Siraj-ul-Aloom Educational Trust.The latest court order is interim in nature, and the broader legal challenge concerning the institution remains pending.
