DEHRADUN, Oct. 21 -- : Weekly holidays at madrassas recognised by the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education (USAME) are observed on Sundays instead of Fridays, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Wednesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Police Commemoration Day event in Dehradun, Dhami said, "There should be a consistent system for everyone, and all educational institutions should move in the same direction".

The decision affects madrassas that have received formal recognition under the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education, a regulatory body established in July. The authority replaced a dedicated madrassa board after legislation passed in August last year brought institutions run by Muslim, Christian, ...