The future of thousands of madrassa students in Uttar Pradesh has entered a phase of disruption and redirection after the Supreme Court struck down the state madrassa board’s authority to award Kamil and Fazil degrees under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act.

The ruling — delivered on November 5 last year — declared the degrees unconstitutional and reserved certification powers exclusively for universities, leaving an estimated 32,000 students in academic limbo.

For many, the verdict means recalibration, compromise, and in some cases, starting over.

A traditional academic ladder now paused

Madrassa education follows a structured system beginning with Munshi and Maulvi courses — considered equivalents to Class 10 and Class 12 — and progressing to Kamil and Fazil, treated at par with undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Islamic theology and Arabic studies.

While these qualifications have historically held value within religious institutions, students seeking mainstream academic or professional tracks often transition into conventional BA and MA programmes. With recognition revoked, that pathway has now shifted from optional to necessary.

Students caught midstream, futures on hold

For many learners, the ruling wasn't just legal — it was personal.

“I have to think about my career,” said Saqlain Raza, a Fazil first-year student from Varanasi’s Jamia Farooquia, who now plans to pursue a BA and later an MA. Although his Aalim certificate qualifies him for university, the time already invested in Kamil and Fazil may not count.

Ghulam Masih, a Kamil first-year student from Siddharthnagar, echoed similar concerns. He hopes that an ongoing petition seeking affiliation with Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University will provide a lifeline.

For others, the consequences are more severe. Mau district student Mohammad Saad Nizami said his academic journey has stalled after his February 2024 exam.

“It feels like I’ve lost one-and-a-half years,” he said, adding that without a solution soon, he may be forced to abandon his studies altogether.

Govt reassurances, legal uncertainty

The state government has attempted to steady nerves. Minister of State for Minority Welfare Danish Azad Ansari has assured that teachers employed in aided madrassas on the basis of Kamil and Fazil qualifications will not face job insecurity.

Meanwhile, the Teachers’ Association Madaris-e-Arabia Uttar Pradesh has approached the Supreme Court seeking affiliation of students with the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University to validate exams, semesters, and academic credits already completed. The Court has asked for responses from the state government, the UGC, and the madrassa education board, with the matter still pending.

Concerns over academic equivalence and accessibility

Not everyone supports the push for mid-course affiliation. BJP Minority Morcha leader Kunwar Basit Ali argued that the madrassa syllabus does not match university standards and recommended fresh admissions instead of lateral entry.

For madrassa leadership and teachers, such proposals represent not just an academic hurdle, but a socioeconomic one.

“Most of these students come from economically weaker backgrounds,” said Diwan Sahab Zaman Khan, general secretary of the madrassa teachers’ association. “If they are forced to restart their degrees privately, many will simply not be able to afford it.”

A senior official from Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University declined to comment, saying the issue remains sub judice.

As the debate continues — balancing legal compliance, academic standards, and student futures — one reality is already clear: for thousands of young learners in Uttar Pradesh, this ruling has reshaped education from a path to progress into a race against time.