Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday ordered a verification of all the madrasas being run in the state. Dhami’s order comes in the wake of allegations of inhuman treatment, sexual harassment and poor health of madrasa students in Nainital.
Taking cognizance of the reports of inhuman treatment to the children in an illegal madrasa at Virbhatti village near Jeolikot in Nainital district, Dhami directed additional chief secretary home Radha Raturi to verify the functioning of all the madrasas across the state and present a report to the government.
In his directive to the ACS, the Chief Minister said, “Get the verification done in all the madrasas running in the state. Initiate legal action wherever they are following unethical ways of working and book those responsible for the ill treatment of students and children.”
Acting on Dhami’s order, the state home department issued instructions to all district magistrates to launch verification drives against the madrasas in their areas.
It is significant that the Nainital police booked the head of the Virbhatti madrasa, Mohammed Haroon, and his son Ibrahim, under the Pocso Act and Juvenile Justice (Protection of Children) Act 2015.
