India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is investigating serious claims that Hindu children in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena-Shivpuri area are being enrolled in madrasas and taught the Quran, raising fears of religious conversion.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo shared these details with reporters on Tuesday. He explained that the commission received a complaint highlighting how Hindu kids in the region are joining these Islamic schools, with the complainant worried it could lead to them converting to Islam. Reports suggest at least five children are already involved, but the issue appears broader.
Kanoongo stressed that madrasas aren’t recognized as formal schools under Indian law. “Enrolling Hindu children in madrasas just doesn’t seem right,” he said. He pointed to Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution, which requires the government to provide education through official schools. Madrasas fall outside this, and they’re also not covered by the Right to Education Act.
He added that using government funds for madrasas and letting in children from other faiths points to major administrative failures in Madhya Pradesh.
In response, the NHRC has sent a notice to the state’s Principal Secretary for School Education. They’re demanding a thorough probe into the allegations and an Action Taken Report within 15 days. Officials must also email a copy of the report to the commission.
The complaint, filed on September 26, paints a bigger picture: an alleged illegal conversion racket operating across several Madhya Pradesh districts. It claims 556 Hindu children have been signed up in 27 unauthorized madrasas, all with the supposed goal of converting them to Islam.
In an official statement, the NHRC bench led by Kanoongo called the matter urgent. “Madrasas aren’t schools under Article 21-A or the Right to Education Act,” the statement noted. “So, how are these Hindu children getting admitted? We need answers.”
This case spotlights ongoing debates in India about religious education, child rights, and state oversight of schools. The NHRC’s quick action underscores their commitment to protecting vulnerable kids from potential exploitation.
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