Secularism means 'live and let live', regulating madrasas serves national interest: SC

SC RESERVES VERDICT

NEW DELHI: Observing that secularism embodies the principle of "live and let live," the Supreme Court highlighted on Tuesday that regulating madrasas serves the national interest by upholding the nation's composite culture. The court highlighted that centuries of this shared heritage could not be erased by isolating minority communities. These comments were made during a day-long hearing on the challenge to the Allahabad High Court's judgement, which had declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004 unconstitutional.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed the view that regulating madrasas should be seen as a measure to preserve India's pluralistic fabric. The Allahabad High Court had ruled that the 2004 Uttar Pradesh law violated the principle of secularism by recognizing religious Education, specifically in madrasas, but the Supreme Court questioned this stance.

"Secularism means 'live and let live," said Chief Justice Chandrachud, agreeing with senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the petitioners challenging the High Court's decision. The CJI pointed out that the country's long history of cultural and religious coexistence should not be dismissed. "Is it not in our national interest that you regulate the madrasas?" the bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government government.