No interference in madrassas: Sibal

NEW DELHI - Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said Saturday that the government had no intention of interfering in the process of religious education imparted in madrassas.

But he said schools run by religious minorities will have to comply with quality provisions of the law on right to education.

Sibal, who interacted with academics and educationists on the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, said that the ministry will issue an advisory to all states and union territories so that the constitutional guarantees available to minority institutions are not violated.

He said that the ministry has already introduced an amendment bill in parliament to clarify that the role of school management committees for aided minority institutions was advisory in nature.

He said that several organisations expressed apprehension about the impact of right to education law on madrassa education but these apprehensions were unfounded.

Besides calling for transparent admissions, participants at the meeting said that provisions such as proof of residence of admission-seekers and grant of recognition to schools should be implemented in a manner that these do not become a source of harassment for children or schools.