Uttarakhand: Government Aid Withheld for 23 Madrasas Read to know why

May 8, 2026

The District Magistrate of Haridwar has, with immediate effect, suspended government aid to 23 madrasas following the discovery of irregularities during a preliminary inquiry. Of these, six madrasas are located in Sultan alone. In response to the increased scrutiny of madrasas, ten administrators issued notices announcing their closure; these cases, too, will be subject to investigation.

The government extends the benefits of various state-sponsored schemes, including the Mid-Day Meal program, along with financial assistance to madrasas. However, following the detection of irregularities within these institutions, the Chief Minister issued orders for a comprehensive inquiry into their operations. Acting on these directives and under the instructions of District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, a WhatsApp group was established on April 19 to facilitate the monitoring of madrasas.

Madrasa administrators were instructed to submit daily updates to the group, including details regarding student attendance and photographs of the Mid-Day Meals being prepared. During the ten-day monitoring period, four madrasas failed to submit any reports whatsoever. Furthermore, when the annual reports for the financial year were being compiled, three madrasas failed to provide the requisite data regarding their participation in government schemes.

Complaints regarding six madrasas operating in Sultan (Laksar) were lodged by the local MLA, Mohammad Shahzad. A preliminary inquiry initiated in response to his complaints uncovered significant irregularities. Consequently, the District Magistrate has ordered the suspension of government aid for a total of 23 madrasas. To conduct a thorough investigation into these institutions, he has constituted a joint committee comprising the District Education Officer (Primary Education) Amit Kumar Chand, the District Probation Officer, the District Minority Welfare Officer, and the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or Tehsildar.

Major Questions Raised Over the Conduct of 14 Madrasas

Serious questions are now being raised regarding the conduct of the 14 madrasas implicated in the investigation. This group includes the ten madrasas whose administrators issued closure notices—seemingly in response to the District Magistrate’s strict enforcement measures—as well as the four madrasas that failed to submit their daily reports to the designated WhatsApp group. It is suspected that these institutions may have fraudulently misappropriated substantial sums of government aid over time; however, with the commencement of a formal investigation, those responsible for orchestrating this “major scam” now face the risk of exposure and legal repercussions.