West Bengal shuts 252 madrassas and issues notices to 100 more over compliance failures
The West Bengal government ordered the closure of 252 madrassas and sent show-cause notices to about 100 others after a survey found many lacked proper approvals and infrastructure.
Officials from the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department carried out a field survey across all districts of West Bengal beginning in early June to assess the status of government and private madrassas. The assessment uncovered widespread gaps in approvals and essential infrastructure, prompting the state government to order the shutdown of 252 madrassas and to serve show-cause notices to about 100 more. Minister Kshudiram Tudu clarified that institutions possessing the necessary permissions will continue to function, while further action will follow responses to the notices.
The initiative was launched on the instruction of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who sought a clear count of authorized versus unauthorized schools. State Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh highlighted past incidents where individuals accused of extremist activities were found teaching at some madrassas, emphasizing the security dimension of the crackdown. Opposition MLA Kunal Ghosh cautioned against treating all madrassas alike, urging a nuanced approach.
Why it matters
The closures affect religious education access and reflect government efforts to enforce compliance and address security concerns.
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