Survey forms are currently being distributed among mosques, madrasas, idgahs, and mazars throughout Bengal. These forms seek information regarding the management, operations, and affiliations of these religious entities. Notably, the surveys do not specify the legal basis for gathering this information, according to NDTV.
The forms seek details including the religious or sectarian affiliation of the institution, ownership of the land on which it is located, sources of funding, including foreign funding, and information about foreign visitors or students.
However, the forms accessed do not mention any Government Notification, Memo Number, date, issuing authority or specific legal provision under which the information is being sought. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), West Bengal Chapter, has now sought clarity from the administration over the legal framework and purpose of the exercise. “We wish to make it clear that APCR is not opposed to any lawful survey or verification undertaken by a competent authority for a legitimate purpose.
“The matter is particularly concerning because the questionnaire seeks several sensitive categories of information, including religious affiliation of the Madrasas, distance from the international border, funding including foreign funding, FIR/court matters, political/organisational positions of alumni, foreign exchange programmes and details concerning foreign nationals staying in the institution,” said Umar Awais, Secretary of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR). APCR, however, said it is not opposed to surveys or verification exercises when they are conducted by a competent authority for a legitimate purpose and in accordance with the law. However, collection of sensitive information through a document having no visible official authentication may create unnecessary confusion, apprehension and mistrust among members of the concerned institutions,” Awais said.
