HC stops demolition of school targeted in 'school jihad' row
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Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on July 14 partially demolished Tehzeeb Islamic English School in Govandi, a private institution serving around 600 students from economically marginalised families, after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya campaigned against it, describing it as an unauthorised madrasa and linking it to what he called "school jihad," the Maktoob Media reported.
The demolition, carried out with Mumbai Police deployment, targeted the ground-plus-three-storey building, which the BMC said was an unauthorised structure under the Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971. Somaiya, who was present during the operation, also said he had complained against 65 allegedly unauthorised schools in Govandi.
"स्कूल जिहाद" तोडकाम
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) July 14, 2026
गोवंडी येथील अनधिकृत तहजीब स्कूलच्या 4 मजली बेकायदेशीर इमारतीचे महापालिकेकडून मुंबई पोलिसांच्या मदतीने आज सकाळपासून तोडकाम सुरू झाले आहे
गोवंडीतील अशा 65 अनधिकृत शाळांविरोधात मी तक्रार दाखल केली असून FIR नोंदवला आहे pic.twitter.com/7wFt1Yu9s2
The Scholar Education Trust, which runs the school, challenged the action before the Bombay High Court, alleging the demolition stemmed from a politically driven campaign targeting a Muslim educational institution. The trust argued that its statutory appeal against the demolition notice was still pending and that the BMC acted without granting a proper personal hearing. It also contended that the building was protected under slum welfare provisions and that the demolition violated Supreme Court guidelines and state restrictions on non-emergency demolitions during the monsoon.
The High Court granted interim relief, restraining the BMC from carrying out further demolition until the trust's appeal is heard, while questioning the urgency of continuing the exercise before the statutory remedy had been exhausted.
The demolition followed Somaiya's campaign in Muslim-majority localities, alleging illegal immigration and demanding action against allegedly unauthorised structures, drawing criticism that such rhetoric reinforces anti-Muslim stereotypes.