Apparently seeking to silence its critics, the local madrassas (seminaries) have unanimously resolved to put in place stringent norms for admission and code of conduct for students and inmates of about 20 such academic institutions in Varanasi.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the management committees and representatives of 11 of 20 madrassas under the guidance of Anjuman Intezamia Masjid office bearers and influential cleric Maulana Abdul Batin Nomani Thursday outlining strict provisions for admission and accommodation in madrassas in the wake of the terror attacks in the temple city.

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Under the new guidelines, only those students having a transfer certificate from their previous academic institutions and a character certificate would be eligible for admission in madrassas in future, the Anjuman Intezamia general secretary Mohammad Yasin said Friday.

The admission seekers should also carry a certificate of good conduct by the gram pradhan, block pramukh or the local legislator for consideration of their applications at the time of admission so that the madrassa management could be convinced of the credentials of the students as well as their families, he said.

The students aspiring for admission in madrassas should also furnish other documents like birth certificate, domicile and proof of their residential addresses for verification by the institutions, if necessary, Yasin said.