Jammu & Kashmir government takes over schools linked to banned JeI amid tight security

Several parties in Kashmir criticise govt takeover of JeI-linked schools; BJP welcomes it

SRINAGAR — Teams of officials accompanied by police visited schools affiliated with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) across the 10 districts of Kashmir as the Jammu & Kashmir government on Saturday took over their management.

According to officials, the entire process was conducted "peacefully and smoothly", without disturbing the education of the students.

The School Education Department had on Friday ordered the takeover of 215 schools affiliated with JeI and its Falah-e-Aam Trust, where over 51,000 students are enrolled, in order to "safeguard their academic future".

On Saturday morning, officials of district administrations, principals of the respective nearest high and higher secondary schools, accompanied by police teams, reached these schools. The administrative teams took charge of the schools, checked their documents and the infrastructure, as well as interacted with the staff, the officials said.

The move drew criticism from political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP, People's Conference and Apni Party, which called it "administrative overreach".

Justice and Development Front (JDF) J-K -- formed by the former members of the banned JeI -- denounced the government move, saying it was a "painful reminder" of the National Conference's "history of betrayal".

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it is unfortunate that the ruling party in J-K "is going against its own people and implementing the BJP's agenda".

However, a teacher at one of such schools in south Kashmir's Anantnag district welcomed the government move.

"I think it is a good step. We used to face a lot of difficulties, but now I think everything will be streamlined," Mohammad Ishaq, teacher at Hanfia Islamia Institute at Tachloo area of the district, said.

He said the district magistrates used to frame the managing bodies of the schools in the 1980s as well.

A student at the school, Aliya Irshad, said the move will benefit the students and the staff. "The school will improve and prosper," she said.

She also demanded that the government increase the salaries of the staff as they work very hard for the students.

The Friday order said, "The Managing Committee of the 215 schools shall be taken over by the District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner concerned who shall propose a fresh Managing Committee in due course for the concerned schools after getting these duly verified."

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, on February 28, 2019, and again on February 27, 2024, declared the Jel as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

"The Intelligence Agencies have identified a number of schools which were found to be directly or indirectly affiliated with proscribed organisation Jamat-e-Islami (Jel)/Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT)," the order said.

It said the validity of the managing committees of these schools has expired, and also these panels have been "reported adversely" by the intelligence agencies.

The order said the decision to take over the managing committees of such schools has been taken in order to safeguard the academic future of the students enrolled in these schools.

The concerned District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner shall take appropriate steps in consultation and in coordination with the School Education Department to ensure that the academic career of the students enrolled in these schools is not affected in any manner, it added.

Education Minister Sakina Itoo, however, said that the schools will be looked after by the principals of the nearby high or higher secondary schools. She said the draft approved by her on Friday mentioned that the cluster principals would look after these schools, contrary to the order issued by the School Education Department Secretary, an IAS officer who reports to the LG.

Several parties in Kashmir criticise govt takeover of JeI-linked schools; BJP welcomes it

SRINAGAR —  Several political parties in Kashmir on Saturday criticised the J-K government's takeover of the management of 215 schools affiliated to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and called for revoking the order, while the BJP welcomed it as a "much-needed intervention" in national interest.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti slammed the ruling National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of "implementing BJP's agenda" and "bringing an established educational system to the brink of destruction".

"It is unfortunate that they are going against their own people and implementing the BJP’s agenda,” she told reporters here.

“Why take over the schools? When they were not taken over in the LG rule, why now in the popular government? If the minister is saying there is confusion, the order should be cancelled. I think it is very bad to play with the lives of the people and especially with the education system,” Mufti said.

The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K appealed to Education Minister Sakina Itoo to stand up for her own people.

“It is not about JeI or FAT. You have done this today for the people in Delhi, tomorrow they will ask you to do something else,” she said, adding, “It seems they (NC) are on the same page with the BJP”.

Justice and Development Front (JDF) J-K – formed by the members of the banned JeI -- denounced the government move, saying it was an “administrative overreach” and a “painful reminder” of the National Conference’s “history of betrayal”.

The outfit and some others claimed that these schools have been "banned", but Education Minister Sakina Itoo denied it and asserted that the schools will only be looked after by the government till the new management committees are formed.

Itoo assured the people that no school will be taken over by the government permanently. "Once the managing committee is formed, schools will be handed over to them," she said.

Peoples' Conference chief and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone too targeted the NC, saying "215 schools forcibly taken over by the J and K Government. And no prizes for guessing. The elected government has passed the order. Shame and shamelessness have assumed new meanings in this government."

"They are setting new standards in servility. And just to recall the sermons, the edicts that this party passed against their opponents," Lone said in a post on X.

He asked the people to be "under no illusions" as the elected government "is a party to all acts undertaken".

“Be it mailings or termination of employees, they are equal partners. They have been equal partners in the past. And they will be equal partners in the future. This is the A team. This was always the A team," Lone said, returning the barb that the National Conference (NC) directed at his party during the assembly elections.

Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari said it is deeply regrettable that the elected government has “enforced the ban” on Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) schools by announcing the takeover of their management.

“Although Jamaat-e-Islami has been banned since 2019, the LG administration refrained from taking over the management of FAT schools. Yet, the elected government, despite enjoying a strong public mandate, has chosen to do so,” Bukhari said on X.

He said rather than assuming direct control, the government could have exercised its authority by establishing clear regulations to safeguard the academic future of students enrolled in these institutions.

“Enforcing a ban in terms of taking over the management of these schools was neither necessary nor justified,” he said.

The fact of the matter is that the ruling party has once again proved its “intolerance” towards those with whom it has political or ideological differences, the former minister said.

The Apni Party chief demanded that the government immediately cancel its decision. “To monitor these schools, the government can establish a regulatory authority to ensure they fully comply with all relevant laws and regulations,” he added.

However, the BJP J-K spokesman Altaf Thakur welcomed the government’s decision and described it as a “much-needed intervention” to ensure that young minds are shielded from separatist narratives.

Thakur said the takeover was in the national interest, as it would ensure a positive and secure learning environment for thousands of students.