Bengal orders closure of 252 unaided madrasas, issues notices to 100 more

Kolkata: The West Bengal government has ordered 252 unaided madrasas to shut down and issued show-cause notices to around 100 others following a statewide verification exercise that flagged several irregularities.

The survey, conducted by the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department, examined the institutions’ authorisation, infrastructure, management, teacher and student strength, registration details and sources of funding. The exercise covered all 22 districts of the state as well as areas of Kolkata.

Officials said the madrasas facing closure allegedly lacked basic facilities, including adequate classrooms, teachers and students. Some were also found to be operating without the necessary approvals or deviating from the standard state school syllabus.

The 100 institutions served show-cause notices will be given an opportunity to explain their position. Further action will be taken if their responses are found to be unsatisfactory.

Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Minister Kshudiram Tudu said institutions with the required approvals would be allowed to continue functioning.

“We want madrasa students to pursue modern, mainstream education and shine in life just like students from other schools,” Tudu said.

According to reports, 45 of the madrasas ordered to close are located in Malda, while Uttar Dinajpur accounts for 37. South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Nadia each have 25 such institutions.

The government’s decision has triggered a political debate in the state. West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya welcomed the survey and said such an exercise should have been carried out much earlier.

Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh alleged that some madrasas had been used by suspected terrorists and for “anti-national activities”. He said institutions complying with regulations would be permitted to operate, but unauthorised madrasas could not be allowed to proliferate.

Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh criticised the remarks, saying all madrasas should not be viewed in the same way. He said portraying the entire madrasa education system negatively was inappropriate.