The Uttar Pradesh government has officially ended the legislative process for the Madrasa (Payment of Salaries to Teachers and Other Employees) Bill, 2016 by withdrawing it from both Houses of the state legislature.
The Bill was introduced and passed during the Samajwadi Party government led by Akhilesh Yadav. However, it never came into force because it failed to receive the necessary constitutional approvals. After remaining pending for nearly a decade, the Yogi Adityanath government has now decided to formally withdraw the proposal.
Bill Aimed to Ensure Timely Salary Payments
The 2016 legislation was introduced with the objective of ensuring regular salary payments for teachers and non-teaching staff working in recognised madrasas across Uttar Pradesh.
The SP government had argued that the proposed law would improve accountability and prevent delays in salary disbursement. It also sought to establish legal responsibility for officials handling salary payments.
Legal Provisions Became the Main Obstacle
The Bill attracted attention because of one of its key provisions that proposed criminal action against officials responsible for delaying salaries.
Legal and constitutional experts questioned whether such a provision was compatible with existing laws. Several other clauses also faced scrutiny, raising concerns about their administrative and constitutional validity.
These objections prevented the Bill from moving forward.
Governor Sent the Bill for Presidential Consideration
After receiving approval from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, the Bill was forwarded to the then Governor Ram Naik.
Instead of granting assent, the Governor referred the legislation to the President of India after raising constitutional concerns. Under constitutional procedure, Bills involving certain legal issues require Presidential approval before becoming law.
Union Home Ministry Recommended Withdrawal
As part of the review process, the Union Home Ministry examined the proposed legislation.
According to the government, the Ministry identified multiple legal and constitutional issues in the Bill. It concluded that several provisions were inconsistent with existing legal principles and advised that the legislation should not proceed in its current form.
Without Presidential approval, the Bill remained inactive for years.
Yogi Government Closes the Pending Matter
The Yogi Adityanath government has now withdrawn the Bill from both Houses of the Legislature, bringing the long-pending matter to an official close.
The government stated that since the legislation had never received constitutional clearance or become operational, there was no justification for keeping it pending any longer.
Nearly Ten Years Without Becoming Law
Although the Bill was passed in 2016, none of its provisions were ever implemented.
Its progress remained stalled because of constitutional procedures involving the Governor, the President and the Union Home Ministry. With its withdrawal, the Uttar Pradesh government has officially ended a legislative proposal that remained incomplete for almost a decade.