Kamil and Fazil degrees in Uttar Pradesh lose legal standing: SC

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that the Uttar Pradesh madrassa board does not have the authority to award Kamil and Fazil degrees, citing violations of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, affecting around 32,000 students.

The Nov 5 verdict declared the practice "unconstitutional," emphasizing that only UGC-recognized universities can grant degrees.

Madrassa education follows a tiered system: Munshi/Maulvi (roughly equivalent to Class 10 and 12), followed by Kamil (undergraduate equivalent) and Fazil (postgraduate equivalent) in Islamic theology and Arabic studies.

While these degrees are recognized in religious institutions, students seeking mainstream careers often shift to universities for BA and MA programs.

Saqlain Raza, a Fazil first-year student at Madarsa Jamia Farooquia in Varanasi, said, "I have to think about my career. Given the situation, I will pursue BA, and later, MA."

His Aalim qualification allows BA admission, but his years on Kamil and Fazil may now go to waste.

Ghulam Masih, a Kamil first-year student from Madarsa Darul Uloom Faiz-ur-Rasool in Siddharthnagar, is also planning to enroll in university BA and MA courses.

He hopes a pending case seeking affiliation of madrassa students with Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University will provide a solution.

Some students, like Mohammad Saad Nizami from Madarsa Taleemuddin in Mau, reported stalled studies.

Nizami said he lost nearly one-and-a-half years after taking his exam in February 2024 and may have to abandon his education if no options are provided.

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Minority Welfare Danish Azad Ansari said the government is working on a solution and assured that teachers employed in aided madrassas based on Kamil and Fazil degrees will not be affected.

The Teachers’ Association Madaris-e-Arabia Uttar Pradesh has filed a petition in the Supreme Court requesting affiliation with Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University to regularize students’ exams and degrees.

During a May 30 hearing, the court asked the state government, UGC, and the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education for responses.

Kunwar Basit Ali, president of the BJP minority morcha in Uttar Pradesh, opposed mid-session affiliation, stating that madrassa curricula for Kamil and Fazil do not meet university standards.

He suggested students should be admitted afresh into degree programs and will raise the matter with the state minority welfare minister.

Diwan Sahab Zaman Khan, general secretary of the madrassa teachers’ association, highlighted that most students come from economically weaker backgrounds and cannot afford high university fees if required to enroll privately.

A senior official at Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University declined to comment, citing the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings.