Court allows Shopian school, sealed under UAPA, to resume academic activities
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A local court on Thursday (September 24, 2026) allowed the resumption of academic activities at the seminary-cum-school, Darul Uloom Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, in south Kashmir’s Shopian, which was sealed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in April this year.
After hearing a petition filed by the school, Mehmood Ahmad Chowdhary, Principal and Sessions Judge, Shopian, passed an order “to permit reopening and resumption of educational activities until the matter is fully adjudicated”.
The court has also directed the formation of a committee, which will include a member from the Education department, the administration and local civil society, to oversee its funcitoning.
“The interim relief has been granted till the main case is decided. The court heard the petition and, if it deemed fit, could completely halt education at the school with 400 students living on the campus. We pleaded that the school has no record of any student, staff, or administration being involved in anything,” said Advocate S. M. Iqbal, representing the school.
Mr. Iqbal said the move to seal the school and its assets in April this year “affected hundreds of students and teachers registered with the school”.
“The court has allowed the students to re-join the classes,” he added.
The multi-storey buildings of the seminary, considered one of the largest in South Kashmir, had 814 students enrolled with 102 staff members.
In an official order issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg, in exercise of powers under Section 8(1), cited the school’s alleged links with a banned organisation, Jamaat-e-Islami, financial irregularities, and concerns over misuse of the institution’s premises.
Subsequently, the District Magistrate, Shopian, invoked Section 8(4) of the UAPA and barred any entry into the notified place. Later, the building was sealed.
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