In a significant political and administrative development in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has withdrawn a controversial bill that was passed during the Samajwadi Party government in 2016. The bill had provided legal protection to madrassa teachers by shielding them from police action. With the withdrawal of this legislation, police authorities can now directly arrest offenders, bringing madrassa employees under the same legal framework as others.

The decision is being viewed as a strong move against what the government describes as selective privilege. The bill had been approved when the Samajwadi Party was in power under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav. Its withdrawal marks a clear departure from the earlier policy approach.

The bill, which focused on madrassa teachers and staff, was criticised for violating the constitutional principle of equality. Minority Welfare Minister Omprakash Rajbhar explained that under the legislation titled Uttar Pradesh Madrasa (Payment of Salaries to Teachers and Other Employees) Bill, no legal action or investigation could be initiated against any madrassa employee. This provision effectively placed madrassa teachers beyond the reach of normal administrative and legal procedures.

Apart from regulating the payment of salaries to madrassa teachers and other employees, the bill also included clauses that restricted administrative and legal action against madrassas themselves. These provisions raised serious constitutional concerns, as they created a separate layer of protection for a specific group, something critics argued was not permissible under the law.

Reports indicate that after the Samajwadi Party government managed to get the bill passed in both houses of the Uttar Pradesh legislature, the then Governor, Ram Naik, referred it to the President of India. Naik formally objected to the bill, stating that it went against constitutional principles. Due to these objections, the bill was never implemented during the Samajwadi Party’s tenure.

Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decisive victory in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and the formation of the Yogi Adityanath government, the President returned the bill to the state. The Central government pointed out major legal flaws and advised the state government to introduce a fresh bill that complied with constitutional requirements. Acting on this advice, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet has now approved a proposal to withdraw the bill entirely. Alongside this decision, the cabinet also cleared 24 other proposals, including a supplementary budget.

Three Major Cabinet Decisions

One of the key decisions taken by the cabinet relates to healthcare education and staffing. The government has approved the formation of a UP Specialist Doctor and Medical Teacher Recruitment Board. This new body aims to speed up the recruitment of specialist doctors and medical teachers. At present, such recruitment is handled by the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission, which often faces delays due to its heavy workload. The new board is expected to help address staff shortages in hospitals and medical colleges across the state.

Another major decision involves regional development. The cabinet has approved the creation of a Kashi-Vindhya Regional Development Authority to oversee the overall development of Kashi and Vindhyachal. The authority will focus on expanding corridors, promoting regional growth and strengthening tourism. In addition, the cabinet has approved the upgradation of Kashi Naresh Government Postgraduate College in Gyanpur, Bhadohi, into Kashi Naresh University. This will be done through an amendment to the UP State Universities Act, 1973.

The third significant decision concerns higher education in Shahjahanpur. The cabinet has approved the establishment of Swami Shukdevanand University under the Mumukshu Ashram Trust. To facilitate this, an amendment to the UP State Universities Act, 1973 has been cleared, paving the way for the creation of the new university.

Key Proposals Approved by the Cabinet

The cabinet has approved the formation of a new committee for the operation, security and maintenance of Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow. A dedicated fund will also be created to meet its annual expenses.

Under the Chief Minister Urban Expansion and New City Promotion Scheme, funds will be provided to the Azamgarh Development Authority to support the development of new cities in the region.

Infrastructure development also featured prominently in the approvals. A permanent bridge will be constructed in place of the existing Pipa bridge between Sitamadhi, Dhantulsi and Dengurpur Ghat on the Ganga River in Bhadohi. Additionally, a four-lane bridge will be built on the Ganga River to connect the Salori–Jhunsi road in Prayagraj.

The cabinet has cleared amendments to Civil Defence rules, with new regulations set to be implemented in 2025. In the agriculture sector, the Indian Seed Cooperative Society will establish a tissue culture laboratory and undertake seed production and conservation work in Uttar Pradesh. For this purpose, 31 acres of government agricultural land in Barabanki will be leased.

A Basmati seed processing unit, along with an organic training centre and a demonstration farm, will be set up at Tanda, Bijesi in Pilibhit. For this project, land will be leased to APEDA for a period of 70 years.

Under the Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 scheme, recipe-based supplementary nutrition will be provided to children and women, aiming to improve nutritional outcomes.

To support working women, eight working women’s hostels will be constructed in Lucknow, Noida and Ghaziabad. The respective development authorities will provide land to the Women’s Welfare Department. In addition, construction fee exemption has been approved for the women’s hostel to be built in Surya Nagar, Ghaziabad.

Industrial and educational development plans include the creation of a 75-acre textile park in Varanasi and the establishment of a Forestry and Horticulture University in Gorakhpur.

In the power sector, the credit limit for power companies has been increased. The borrowing limit from REC and PFC has been raised from ₹6,800 crore to ₹12,000 crore. The government has also approved the purchase of bags for paddy procurement.

Several proposals related to the Industrial Investment Policy have been cleared, including those approved during the High-Level Executive Committee meeting held on September 2, 2025. Amendments to financial powers under the Financial Rules Collection, Volume 1, have also received cabinet approval.

Other decisions include approval for phone bill reimbursement for retired and former judges. The cabinet has cleared the “Building Construction on Exchange Land Regulations, 2025” of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, as well as the “Model Casting Guidelines (Basic Principles), 2025”, marking further regulatory updates by the state government.