Dehradun: The Uttarakhand Cabinet meeting concluded today at the State Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. In the meeting, proposals were made for the bill and ordinance to be presented in the monsoon session to be held in Bhararisain Assembly from August 19.
It was decided in the meeting that the Uttarakhand Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2025 Bill will be introduced in the assembly session. Till now the status of minority educational institution was available only to the Muslim community. Under the proposed bill, now other minority communities like Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis will also get this facility. This will be the first such Act in the country which aims to establish a transparent process for granting recognition to educational institutions established by minority communities in the state. Also to ensure quality and excellence in education.
Main features of the Act
1 – Formation of Authority – Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority will be constituted in the state, which will provide the status of minority educational institution.
2 – Mandatory recognition – Any educational institution established by Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi community will be required to obtain recognition from the authority to get the status of minority educational institution.
3 – Protection of institutional rights – The Act will not interfere in the establishment and operation of minority educational institutions, but will ensure that the quality and excellence of education is maintained.
4 – Mandatory conditions – To get recognition, the educational institution must be registered under the Society Act, Trust Act or Company Act. Land, bank accounts and other assets should be in the name of the institution. Recognition can be withdrawn in case of financial irregularities, lack of transparency or activities against religious and social harmony.
5 – Monitoring and examination – The authority will ensure that education is provided as per the standards set by the Uttarakhand Board of School Education and the evaluation of students is fair and transparent.
Effect of the Act
• Educational institutions of minority communities in the state will now get recognition through a transparent process.
• Along with the quality of education, the constitutional rights of minorities will also be protected.
• The State Government will have the power to monitor the functioning of the institutions and issue necessary directions from time to time.
