New Delhi, September 30 (IANS) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Priyank Kanoongo said on Tuesday that the Commission has received a complaint alleging that Hindu children are being nominated in Madras and Quran in the Morena-Shivpuri area of Madhya Pradesh. NHRC has taken cognizance of the matter and issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government.
Speaking to IANS, Priyank Kanongo said, “We received a complaint from Madhya Pradesh stating that in Morena-Shivpuri region, Hindu children are being nominated in Madrasas and taught to Quran.
Kanoongo stressed that Madras is not recognized as official educational institutions under the existing Indian laws and therefore, children should not be nominated especially for religious instructions.
“Our initial approach is that it is unfair to enroll Hindu children in Madras. According to Article 21-A of the Constitution, it is the duty of the state to provide formal education through recognized schools. Madras does not fall under this category and is also outside the purview of the right to the Education Act,” he said.
He added, “Running Madras with government funding and enrollment of Hindu children in them increases serious concerns and reflects an important administrative lapse.”
Meanwhile, NHRC has written to the Principal Secretary of the School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, directed the complete investigation into the allegations. The Commission has asked to submit a detailed action report (ATR) within 15 days. Officers have also been instructed to send a copy of the report via email.
According to a complaint on 26 September, a streamlined illegal adaptation racket is allegedly operating in several districts of Madhya Pradesh. Complaint claims that 556 Hindu children have been nominated in 27 unauthorized Madrasas, to convert them into Islam with ‘intentions’.
“NHRC’s bench, headed by Priyank Kanoongo, has taken cognizance of the matter. The registry has been directed to issue a notice to Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Madhya Pradesh, which is also important to direct them to investigate the allegations. Institutes,” The Commission said in an official statement.
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JK/Red