SC To Hear Plea To Regulate Religious Education Centres

A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma is likely to take up the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

The petition seeks directions to “take appropriate steps to register, recognise, supervise and monitor all institutions, imparting secular education and/or religious instruction to children up to the age of 14 years in spirit of Article 21A read with Article 39 (f), 45 and 51-A(k).”

It contends that Article 30 does not grant additional rights to minorities beyond those under Article 19(1)(g), and seeks a declaration to that effect.

“Direct and declare that Article 30 is specific reiteration of the Article 19(1)(g) and doesn't confer any additional rights/benefits/privileges than the rights guaranteed to the citizens under Article 19(1)(g),” the plea said.

The petition states that it has been filed under Article 32 seeking regulation of institutions imparting secular or religious education to children up to 14 years.

“Petitioner is filing the PIL under Article 32 for registration recognition supervision monitoring of all institutions imparting secular/religious education to children up to 14 years in spirit of Article 21A, 39(f), 45 and 51-A(k). Petitioner submits that children are the backbone of the nation's growth and are also gullible & naive due to their tender age. Hence, the State has heightened responsibility towards them. This is an issue of national security as young kids form the future of the nation, and can be brainwashed/manipulated in unregistered institutions.”

The plea claims that unregistered and unrecognised institutions are operating in several districts along the Uttar Pradesh border without adequate oversight.