Sessions judges ordered to monitor Quranic sessions in districts

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has ordered the sessions judges of all Punjab districts to investigate if the Holy Quran is being taught as a separate topic, as claimed by the education department, in their respective jurisdictions.

"The learned district and sessions judges shall also get the signature of the principal/headmaster on the school report as a proof of its correctness," Justice Shahid Waheed wrote in his decision on Altamash Saeed's appeal last week.

The secretary of the school education department filed a report confirming that the district education authorities' chief executive officers visited all of the schools (public, private, and madressahs) in their respective areas and confirmed that the Holy Quran is taught as a separate subject in every school.

However, the judge notes in his order that the information brought to the court's attention is in conflict with the government's report. The judge notes that the subject is of great public concern, and the court requests that the district judiciary counter-verify the school department's findings.

As a result, the judge orders that all district education officials transmit their complete records to the concerned district and sessions judge by November 15. The judge orders that the D&SJs or their nominees not only check whether the Holy Quran is taught as a separate subject, but also double-check that the facts given in the report submitted by the secretary of the school education department are correct in every way.

The D&SJs have been given till November 29 to submit their reports.

The next hearing will take place on November 24.