Prayagraj: The Allahabad HC has refused to interfere with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad’s (ATS) probe into the funding of more than 4,000 unaided madrassas operating across the state.A division bench comprising Justice Neeraj Tiwari and Justice Vivek Saran dismissed a petition filed by the Madrassa Management Committee and the Teachers’ Association, Madrassas Arabia.The petitioners had sought to quash the state govt’s Dec 9, 2025 order directing an ATS inquiry into the funding of their institutions. They argued that two earlier inquiries had been conducted on almost identical grounds and had found no irregularities. They further contended that the fresh probe was merely an attempt to harass the institutions and was therefore arbitrary and liable to be quashed.Opposing the plea, Additional Advocate General Manish Goel submitted that the inquiry was not limited to the petitioners but covered more than 4,000 institutions across the state based on intelligence inputs received from various agencies. He argued that the inquiry was only a fact-finding exercise and did not amount to any coercive action. The petitioners, he said, were free to submit their responses before the inquiry committee.Accepting the state’s stand, the bench dismissed the petition, observing: “Under the facts of the case, the Court is of the firm view that the conduct of an inquiry cannot be said to be a coercive action against the petitioners. Therefore, the Court is not inclined to entertain this petition at this stage.”In its July 1 judgment, however, the court clarified that the petitioners would be at liberty to submit their replies before the inquiry committee and that any such response would be duly considered.The ATS probe was initiated following intelligence inputs alleging the receipt of foreign funding by several unaided madrasas. The inputs also flagged the construction of large educational institutions at various locations without clear financial records or verifiable sources of funding.
