Latest news with #UttarakhandMinorityEducationalInstitutionsBill
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Monsoon session ends on 2nd day as Congress MLAs continue protest
Gairsain: The monsoon session of the Uttarakhand assembly ended abruptly on Wednesday, just the second day of the four-day sitting, as Congress MLAs persisted with their protest over alleged rigging in the panchayat elections. The House was adjourned sine die before lunch, with proceedings lasting only two hours and 40 minutes. Congress legislators, demanding the resignation of the SSP and district magistrate of Nainital, had sought a discussion through an adjournment motion on the first day. When their demand was denied, they staged a sit-in inside the House and spent the night on the Assembly floor. On Wednesday, as proceedings were to begin at 11 am, Congress members stood before the Speaker's chair and as soon as she entered, they stormed into the well of the House, raised slogans, threw official papers in the air, and banged books on the secretary's table—repeating scenes from the first day. They also pressed for withdrawal of cases against senior leaders and a debate on the state's law and order. Senior Congress MLAs Pritam Singh and Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya resigned from the Business Advisory Committee. Arya said, "One can understand the law and order situation of the state when MLAs are not being spared. We simply wanted a discussion so that our voice could reach people and some necessary action could be taken in the matter." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Despite the chaos and repeated adjournments, eight bills and a supplementary budget of Rs 5,315 crore were passed without debate. Among the bills cleared were the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, and two separate amendments to the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Bill, 2025. Reacting to the Congress protest, BJP legislators staged a march accusing the opposition of stalling proceedings. Parliamentary affairs minister Subodh Uniyal told TOI, "We tried our best, but Congress did not want the House to function. I don't know what they were trying to do by creating such a ruckus in the assembly. There were other ways through which they could have approached the House for a discussion, but they appeared more interested in grabbing the limelight through their act. " Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
News18
21 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Uttarakhand Assembly passes Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill
New Delhi [India], August 20 (ANI): The Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, has been passed in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly today. The benefits of minorities will also now be available to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Parsis and Buddhist communities. Until now, the status of minority educational institutions has been given only to the Muslim Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority will replace the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board. The Harish Rawat-led Congress government had enacted the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act in 2016. By July 1, 2026, all madrasas operating in the state will have to obtain affiliation from the Uttarakhand Education Board, and thereafter, to obtain minority status, they will have to apply to the Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority. Only if the prescribed conditions are fulfilled, the institution will be granted the status of a Minority Educational on August 17, the Uttarakhand Cabinet made a historic decision by deciding to introduce the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, in the Legislative to the release, the Bill seeks to extend the benefits of Minority Educational Institutions status to the minority communities other than Muslims as well. Once enacted, it will permit the study of Gurmukhi and Pali also in recognised minority educational Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019, will stand repealed from July 1, the proposed Bill, this facility will also be available to other minority communities i.e Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis. This is the first such Act in the country, aimed at establishing a transparent process for granting recognition to educational institutions set up by minority communities in the state, while ensuring quality and excellence in features of the Act include the formation of an authority – an 'Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education" will be constituted in the state to grant the status of minority educational includes mandatory recognition, ie any educational institution established by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi communities must obtain recognition from the Authority to qualify as a minority educational of institutional rights – the law does not interfere in the establishment and administration of minority educational institutions but ensures that educational excellence is conditions: To obtain recognition, educational institutions must be registered under the Societies Act, Trust Act, or Companies Act. Ownership of land, bank accounts, and other assets must be in the name of the institution. Recognition can be withdrawn in cases of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, or activities against religious and social and examination: The authority will ensure that education is imparted in accordance with the standards set by the Board of School Education, Uttarakhand, and that student evaluations remain fair and Act introduces significant changes for the minority community's institutions in the state by establishing a transparent process for their recognition. It ensures the quality of education is maintained while protecting the Constitutional rights of minorities. Additionally, the state government gains the authority to monitor the functioning of these institutions and issue necessary directives as needed. (ANI)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bills on minority edu, religious conversion & UCC tabled in House
Gairsain: The state govt on Tuesday introduced eight bills on the first day of the monsoon session, including the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, and the Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Minority Educational Institutions Bill replaces the Uttarakhand Madrassa Board with the newly formed Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority (USMEA), which will oversee recognition and standards for minority institutions. The legislation will also replace the Uttarakhand Madrassa Education Board Act, 2016, and the Uttarakhand Non-Governmental Arabic and Persian Madrassa Recognition Rules, 2019, which are to be repealed, effective July 1, 2026. All madrassas would be required to obtain affiliation from Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE) and apply to USMEA for minority status effective July 1 next year. The bill also extends minority educational benefits beyond Muslim institutions to Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis. An 11-member authority representing all six minorities has been established as well. The body will be headed by a person having at least 15 years' experience in teaching. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Europe Travel Hack That Saves You Hundreds on Trips! Learn More Undo Key provisions of the bill include mandatory registration under the Society, Trust or Company Acts, protection from interference and revocation of recognition for financial irregularities or activities "against religious and social harmony. " The authority will ensure education quality "as per standards set by UBSE." The Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill introduces harsher penalties for forced religious conversions, raising the maximum jail term from 10 years to 14 to 20 years, and in some cases, life imprisonment. The fine has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh. The bill states, "Whoever receives funds from foreign or other entities concerning unlawful religious conversion shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than seven years… and a fine not less than Rs 10 lakh. " It further adds that those who use force, coercion, or trafficking in conversion cases "shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment… which may extend to life imprisonment." Additionally, the govt tabled the Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to extend procedural timelines, clarify provisions on marriage, divorce, live-in relationships, and succession and impose stricter penalties for offences such as "misrepresentation, concealment of serious criminal convictions, and obtaining consent through force or fraud." The amendments aim to "make the code more practical, equitable, and effective" to protect societal interests while streamlining legal processes. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Uttarakhand CM Dhami praises self-help group women, sanitation workers during Bhararisain visit
Bhararisain: Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami , during his morning visit to Bhararisain (Gairsain) on Tuesday, spoke to women of a self-help group working under the National Rural Livelihood Mission and appreciated the work being done by them. He also took feedback on the facilities being provided by the government. According to a release, the Chief Minister said that he "appeals to the tourists coming to Devbhoomi Uttarakhand to spend 5 per cent of their travel expenses on the purchase of local products" on the call made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this, the Chief Minister also met the sanitation workers working in the Vidhan Sabha premises and inquired about their food and accommodation arrangements. Everyone expressed gratitude for the facilities being provided by the government. The Chief Minister said that the dedication of the sisters engaged in empowering rural livelihood and the dedication of the sanitation workers discharging their duties towards a clean and healthy society is a unique example of collective effort towards 'Developed Uttarakhand.' Earlier, Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams extended his congratulations to the Pushkar Singh Dhami government on Sunday after the Uttarakhand Cabinet decided to introduce the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo Speaking to ANI, Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman said, "Many congratulations to the Dhami government. Today, there has been talk of forming a minority education authority in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. With this, the new minority institutions that will be formed will get approval, and minority does not mean only Muslims, minorities also include Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis so that everyone will get rights. I think it is a very positive step taken in that direction." Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Cabinet made a historic decision by deciding to introduce the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, in the coming session of the Legislative Assembly starting on August 19. Until now, the status of minority educational institutions has been given only to the Muslim community. According to the release, the Bill seeks to extend the benefits of Minority Educational Institutions status to the minority communities other than Muslims as well. Once enacted, it will permit the study of Gurmukhi and Pali also in recognised minority educational institutions. The Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016 and the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019, will stand repealed from July 1, 2026. Under the proposed Bill, this facility will also be available to other minority communities, i.e Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis. This is the first such Act in the country, aimed at establishing a transparent process for granting recognition to educational institutions set up by minority communities in the state, while ensuring quality and excellence in education. Key features of the Act include the formation of an authority - an "Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education" will be constituted in the state to grant the status of minority educational institutions. It includes mandatory recognition, ie any educational institution established by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, or Parsi communities must obtain recognition from the Authority to qualify as a minority educational institution. Protection of institutional rights - the law does not interfere in the establishment and administration of minority educational institutions, but ensures that educational excellence is maintained. Mandatory conditions - To obtain recognition, educational institutions must be registered under the Societies Act, Trust Act, or Companies Act. Ownership of land, bank accounts, and other assets must be in the name of the institution. Recognition can be withdrawn in cases of financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, or activities against religious and social harmony. Monitoring and examination - The authority will ensure that education is imparted in accordance with the standards set by the Board of School Education, Uttarakhand, and that student evaluations remain fair and transparent. The Act introduces significant changes for the minority community's institutions in the state by establishing a transparent process for their recognition. It ensures the quality of education is maintained while protecting the Constitutional rights of minorities. Additionally, the state government gains the authority to monitor the functioning of these institutions and issue necessary directives as needed.
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Madrassas need to get state board affiliation by July 1: Uttarakhand govt
The Uttarakhand government on Monday gave an ultimatum to all madrassas in the state—whether registered or unregistered with the Madrassa Board—directing them to secure affiliation with the Uttarakhand Education Board by July 1 next year or face closure, according to a report by India Today. The government also emphasised that madrassas would only be able to seek recognition as minority educational institutions after applying to the Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority. Move linked to proposed Minority Educational Institutions Bill The announcement came a day after the Pushkar Singh Dhami cabinet approved the introduction of the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, in the forthcoming legislative Assembly session beginning on August 19. The Bill seeks to repeal the Madrassa Board and the rules that govern minority-run institutions in the state. According to an official statement, the draft legislation aims to extend the benefits of the Minority Educational Institutions status to minority communities beyond Muslims. Key provisions of the proposed Bill If enacted, the Bill will also allow the teaching of Gurmukhi and Pali in recognised minority institutions from July 1 next year. It will further result in the dissolution of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board Act, 2016, as well as the Uttarakhand Non-Government Arabic and Persian Madrasa Recognition Rules, 2019. The existing rules authorise the Madrassa Board to design the syllabus, set guidelines, hold examinations, and inspect madrassas to ensure they meet eligibility requirements. At present, the Board has a Recognition Committee responsible for granting approval to madrasas. The Dhami government's move to introduce the new Bill comes six months after it launched a madrassa-sealing drive to close institutions not recognised by the Board or the education department. Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill approved This development follows the Cabinet's approval of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday. The legislation introduces stricter penalties for illegal conversions, bans propaganda through digital media, and provides protection for victims. It also prescribes punishment for marriage under false identity and for incitement to conversion via social media, messaging applications, or any online platform. The Bill expands the definition of inducement to include gifts, monetary or material benefits, employment, free education, promises of marriage, hurting religious sentiments, or glorifying another religion, all of which fall under the category of offences.
