West Bengal has ordered 252 madrassas to close and sought explanations from around 100 others after a statewide survey. The move has intensified scrutiny of approvals and infrastructure, even as opposition voices caution against branding all madrassas alike.
The West Bengal government has ordered the closure of 252 madrassas and issued show-cause notices to around 100 others after a state-wide survey found that several institutions did not have the required approvals and basic infrastructure, officials said on Sunday.
Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Minister Kshudiram Tudu said madrassas with the necessary approvals will continue to function. Officials said further action will be taken after the responses to the show-cause notices are examined.
The field-level survey was carried out by the department across all districts of West Bengal from early June to assess the infrastructure, approval status and management systems of government and private madrassas.
Tudu said the exercise was launched following directions from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to find out the number of authorised and unauthorised madrassas in different districts. “As many as 252 madrassas have been ordered to close while 100 others have been sent show-cause notices for lacking requisite approvals and basic infrastructure,” the minister said.
State Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh said there had been several controversies surrounding madrassas and claimed that, in several cases, people arrested for their alleged involvement in extremist activities were found to have been working as teachers in some such institutions. “Complaints against madrassas had repeatedly been received. There have been instances of people carrying out anti-national activities from seminaries,” he said. “Madrassas being run in accordance with the law and with government permission will continue to function. But the government will not allow madrassas to be opened indiscriminately and cause trouble.”