The Allahabad High Court has put a stop to the Economic Offences Wing's (EOW) investigation into 558 aided madrassas in Uttar Pradesh. The order was issued by a bench of Justices Saral Srivastava and Amitabh Kumar Rai on September 22, 2025, and notices have been sent to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the complainant, with the next hearing scheduled for November 17, 2025. The respondents have been directed to file their replies within four weeks.

The EOW's probe was initiated following directions from the NHRC, which acted on a complaint filed by Mohammad Talha Ansari alleging human rights violations within these madrassas. The NHRC's orders, which prompted the state government to direct the EOW to investigate, were issued on February 28, April 23, and June 11, 2025. The complaint alleged illegal recruitments, forged appointments, and misuse of funds in a large number of madrassas, especially during the Covid-19 period.

Challenging the NHRC's directives and the subsequent inquiry, petitions were filed in the High Court by associations of madrassa managers and teachers. The petitioners requested the court to quash the NHRC's orders and the consequential government order of April 23, 2025, which authorized the EOW's investigation.

The petitioners argued that the NHRC's actions were beyond its jurisdiction. They cited Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which outlines the commission's functions. Furthermore, they pointed to Section 36(2) of the same Act, stating that the NHRC cannot inquire into any matter after one year from the date of the alleged human rights violation. The petitioners also contended that none of the conditions stipulated under Section 12-A of the Act, which allows the commission to inquire suo motu or based on a petition or court order, were met in this case.

The petitioners further argued that the complaint was vague and lacked a specific date for the alleged violations, making it impossible to determine if it was filed within the one-year statutory period. They submitted that the entire exercise undertaken by the commission was without jurisdiction.