Several students enrolled in Kamil and Fazil courses at madrassas in Uttar Pradesh are now considering new academic options after the Supreme Court of India ruled that the state madrassa board lacked the authority to award these degrees, citing violation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act.

The decision delivered on November 5 last year affected around 32,000 students, declaring the practice "unconstitutional" and reserving degree-awarding powers to universities under the UGC.

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

These degrees are recognised mainly within

religious institutions, wh

See Full Page