Ahead of the upcoming national elections, an Indian court has effectively prohibited Islamic schools in Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state. The ruling, issued on Friday by the Allahabad High Court, invalidates a 2004 law governing madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, citing violations of India's constitutional secularism. The court has ordered the relocation of students from madrasas to conventional schools.

This decision impacts approximately 2.7 million students and 10,000 teachers across 25,000 madrasas in the state, where Muslims make up one-fifth of the population. The ruling emphasizes the state government's responsibility to ensure that children between the ages of 6 to 14 years are enrolled in duly recognized institutions.

The judgment, delivered by Judges Subhash Vidyarthi and Vivek Chaudhary, follows an appeal filed by lawyer Anshuman Singh Rathore. However, Reuters was unable to verify Rathore's affiliation or determine any potential political connections.

The move comes amid India's forthcoming general election, scheduled between April and June, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) anticipated to secure victory. However, BJP members and affiliates have faced accusations of promoting anti-Islamic sentiments and engaging in vigilantism, including the demolition of Muslim-owned properties. Despite such allegations, Modi has consistently denied the existence of religious discrimination within India.