The West Bengal government recently ordered the closure of 252 Madarsas across the state and issued show-cause notices to 100 others. On Sunday (13th September), officials said that notices were issued by the state Minority Affairs and the Madrassa Education Department following a field-level survey of unaided madarsas.
The survey was conducted by the department across all the districts of the state, starting in June. It is intended to assess the infrastructure, approval status, and management systems of government and private madarsas, with special focus on Khariji madarsas.
Khariji madarsas are independent schools imparting Islamic religious education that rely on public donations and charitable trusts instead of government funding. Reports quoting a senior Nabanna official said that the state government found that at several Khariji madarsas, students were being brainwashed and imparted anti-national propaganda.
Minister Kshudiram Tudu, who heads the department, said that the survey was conducted on the directions of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to determine the number of authorised and unauthorised madrassas in different districts. He added that madarsas with required approval will continue to operate.
“As many as 252 madarsas have been ordered to close while 100 others have been sent show-cause notices for lacking requisite approvals and basic infrastructure,” the minister said. “We want madarsa students to pursue modern, mainstream education and shine in life just like students from other schools,” he added.
Around 2,396 madarsas were reportedly found functioning without registration, as stated in the reports submitted by District Magistrates. Out of the 252 madarsas issued closure notices, 44-45 are located in Malda, around 37 in North Dinajpur, about 32 in South Parganas, and 25 each in Murshidabad and Nadia.
State Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh said that the state government’s action followed several controversies surrounding madarsas. He said that many people working as teachers in madarsas were arrested for their involvement in extremist activities.
“Complaints against madarsas had repeatedly been received. There have been instances of people carrying out anti-national activities from some seminaries,” Ghosh said. “Madarsas being run in accordance with the law and with government permission will continue to function. But the government will not allow madarsas to be opened indiscriminately and cause trouble,” he added.
