Bengal Government Orders Closure of 252 Madarsas After Statewide Survey

The Bengal Government has ordered the closure of 252 madarsas across the state following a statewide survey into unaided Islamic educational institutions, while another 100 establishments have reportedly been issued show-cause notices over concerns related to approvals and basic infrastructure. The move has triggered a major debate over regulation, education and the future of religious institutions operating outside the formal system.

According to officials cited in reports, the action followed a field-level survey conducted by the Minority Affairs and Madrassa Education Department. The exercise reportedly began in June and covered districts across West Bengal, examining infrastructure, approval status and management arrangements. Particular attention was paid to Khariji madarsas, which generally operate independently and rely on donations and charitable trusts rather than direct government funding.

The Bengal Government said the purpose of the survey was to identify authorised and unauthorised institutions and determine whether they were meeting required standards. Officials stressed that madarsas possessing the necessary approvals would be allowed to continue functioning. The action, therefore, was presented as an exercise in regulation rather than a blanket closure of religious schools.

Kshudiram Tudu, the minister heading the relevant department, said 252 madarsas had been directed to shut down, while 100 others received notices because of alleged deficiencies in approvals and infrastructure. He also said the administration wanted students studying in madarsas to have access to modern and mainstream education, enabling them to compete alongside students from other educational institutions.

The Bengal Government’s decision followed reports that a large number of madarsas were functioning without registration. District-level reports reportedly identified around 2,396 such institutions across the state. Among those facing closure, a significant number were located in districts including Malda, North Dinajpur, South Parganas, Murshidabad and Nadia.

The issue has also acquired a serious security dimension. Reports quoting senior officials alleged that concerns had been raised about activities at some Khariji madarsas, including accusations that students were being exposed to anti-national propaganda. These allegations are serious and remain central to the wider controversy surrounding the survey and subsequent administrative action.

The Bengal Government has maintained that institutions operating legally and with the required permissions have nothing to fear. The distinction between registered and unregistered establishments is likely to remain at the heart of the government’s defence of the decision, particularly as critics and supporters debate whether the exercise is primarily about educational reform, regulatory compliance or security.

State Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh also linked the action to earlier controversies involving some madarsas. He referred to allegations and cases in which individuals associated with religious educational institutions were arrested over suspected extremist activities. He argued that complaints had repeatedly been received and that authorities could not allow institutions to operate outside the law.

Supporters of the Bengal Government’s action are likely to argue that no educational or religious institution should be exempt from basic standards of registration, infrastructure and legal oversight. From this perspective, the closure orders represent an attempt to bring a fragmented sector under greater scrutiny while ensuring that students receive opportunities beyond traditional religious instruction.

However, the decision may also generate questions about implementation and due process. Institutions receiving closure orders or show-cause notices could seek to demonstrate compliance or challenge administrative findings. The government will therefore face pressure to ensure that every case is handled transparently and that decisions are based on verifiable evidence rather than broad assumptions.

The Bengal Government will also have to address the educational consequences for students affected by the closures. Moving children and young people into recognised schools or helping compliant institutions upgrade their facilities could become an important test of whether the policy achieves its stated objective of encouraging modern, mainstream education.

The development is politically significant as well. Education, minority affairs and law-and-order issues have long been sensitive subjects in West Bengal, and the closure of hundreds of madarsas is certain to draw strong reactions. The matter could become another point of confrontation between political parties, community organisations and competing ideological groups.

For now, the Bengal Government appears determined to defend the survey and the action that followed it. The coming weeks may reveal how many institutions respond to the notices, whether any decisions are challenged, and what steps are taken to accommodate students affected by the closures. The outcome could shape the broader debate over how religious education should function alongside modern regulatory and academic standards in the state.