Though seeking information from madrasas by police or the local intelligence officials is nothing new, the madrasa managements feel that the latest fiat of the state police is aimed at harassing them. Earlier, the police just questioned the madrasas about the background of its students and faculty members. But what has worried the madrasa managements this time is the type of information being sought by the police.

The latest fiat also wants madrasas managements to submit details about the syllabus being taught, teaching timings and their vacation period.

The police have asked the madrasas about the type of degree and certificates being given to the students, like Qari, Aalim, Hafiz, Fazil or Mufti as well as the school of thought to which they belong, Sunni (Barelvi), Sunni (Deobandi/Wahabi/Tasblighi), Ahl-e-Hadith or Shia.

The madrasa managements are also being asked to provide information on things which do not come under their purview, like information about all PCO/telephone booths within one kilometre radius of their institutions.

But the fiat does not stop at that. It also requires all madrasas in the state to collect details about demography, geography and topography of the area within five kilometres radius of the institutions. The police have also sought information whether any student or teacher has been convicted in any criminal offence.

Experts feel the questionnaire sent to all the 80 madrasas seems to have been prepared with the help of some one well acquainted with madrasa system of education.

Reacting to the fiat, Mufti Ahmed Devalvi, president of the Majlis-e-Tahaffuz-e-Madaris, Gujarat, said the order seeking even those information, which have nothing to do with the functioning of the seminaries, is something really very disturbing.

As for the sources of funds, he said all madrasa accounts were totally transparent, and were regularly audited by auditors approved by the government.

Devalvi said while most of the madrasas and maktabs survived on 'zakat' or donations from members of the community, around 75 others got overseas money, but in complete conformity of the statute as laid down under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

He further said all madrasas and mosque buildings in the state were on land belonging to the trusts, which ran them. “None of them are on encroached land,” he said.