Make moral education compulsory in schools, madrassas: UP HC

The Allahabad High Court has directed the Centre and state governments to take steps to make moral education compulsory in schools and institutions established by religious communities including madrassas.

In a corollary to the judgment on April 5 that Muslims could not be treated as a religious minority, Justice S N Srivastava said Muslims also constitute an important part of the citizenry of India and had an important role to play in developing it as a strong nation.

"It is necessary that all citizens must be assimilated as citizenry of India who are also liable to perform their duties towards the nation and society at large," he said.

The operative portion of the judgment was pronounced by Srivastava on April 5 and stayed by a division bench in a special appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government the following day.

Giving details of the 89-page judgment in the case of Anjuman Madarsa Noorul Islam Dera Kain of Ghazipur, Srivastava said under Article 51 of the Constitution a citizen's duties "...according to courts are to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national flag and the national anthem.

Also, it included upholding the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India to promote harmony and brotherhood transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities, he said.

The court directed the state government and the Centre to ensure that moral education was a compulsory subject in schools and institutions established by all religious communities including madrassas.