The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken a stance against a fatwa issued by Darul Uloom Deoband, an Islamic educational institution situated in Saharanpur, prompting a call for legal action and a directive to the Uttar Pradesh government to initiate an FIR against the center. This fatwa, as per the NCPCR, endorses the concept of 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' and is purported to glorify "martyrdom in the context of India’s invasion."
In correspondence addressed to the Senior Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate of Saharanpur, the child rights panel urged for necessary measures to be taken concerning the fatwa, asserting that it propagates sentiments of animosity towards one's own country among children, thereby potentially subjecting them to unwarranted psychological or physical distress.
Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of NCPCR, underscored the alleged infringement of Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, in relation to this matter.
Following the directive from NCPCR, the District Magistrate of Saharanpur has taken steps to address the fatwa. The Magistrate, in correspondence with the Senior Superintendent of Police, instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Deoband to promptly initiate action.
Subsequently, officials including the SDM and CDO, have conducted an investigation at the site, with plans for appropriate measures to be implemented against the Islamic institution.
Confirming the receipt of the NCPCR's directive, District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra Singh stated that instructions have been issued to the Senior Superintendent of Police accordingly. Furthermore, a team comprising the SDM and CDO of Deoband has visited the location to assess the situation and determine the necessary course of action.
In response, Darul Uloom Deoband, in an exclusive statement to India Today, denounced the legal actions initiated against them by NCPCR, questioning the timing of such actions. The institution clarified that the information in question pertains to an incident from 2008, emphasizing that the recent scrutiny seemed arbitrary and politically motivated, especially considering its relevance to historical events.
