The Supreme Court today stayed the Allahabad High Court’s order nullifying the UP Madrasa Education Board Act, 2004, giving a sigh of relief to around 1.7 million madrasa students in Uttar Pradesh. This allows the state’s approximately 16,000 madrasas to continue operating under the 2004 law.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said the high court’s judgment was prima facie incorrect and directed the inquiry to the Uttar Pradesh government. The court also sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government and posted the matter for further hearing in the second week of July.

The high court last month declared the 2004 law “unconstitutional” as it violated the principles of secularism and directed the government to integrate religious school students into the formal education system.

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the case and said the aims and objectives of the Madrasa Board are regulatory in nature and the establishment of the Madrasa Board itself will not affect secularism.