In a massive strike against separatist and secessionist elements running dozens of schools in the Kashmir valley, the government of Union Territory (UT) of J&K has taken over 215 schools. An order to this effect was issued by Secretary to the Government, School Education Department, Ram Niwas Sharma, IAS. The Government Order no 578-JK(Edu) of 2025 dated 22.8.2025 has sent shivers down the spine of Jamaat e Islami (JeI) which had been declared as an “unlawful association’’ some years ago.
All of these 215 schools were found to be directly or indirectly affiliated with proscribed organisation Jamat e Islami/Falah e Aam Trust (FAT), the order said. However, in a move aimed at safeguarding the academic future of thousands of students, the government on Friday ordered the takeover of 215 schools affiliated, directly or indirectly, with the proscribed organisation Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its affiliate Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT). Henceforth, the Deputy Commissioner/District Magistrate of the concerned district will be taking over the administration of these schools.
After taking over the identified schools, the DCs have been asked to take “appropriate steps in consultation and in coordination with School Education Department so that the academic career of the students enrolled in these schools is not affected in any manner’’. The DCs have also been asked to take “necessary measures to ensure quality education as per NEP norms in these schools.
According to a government order, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India vide Notification S.O.1069(E) dated 28th February 2019 and further vide Notification S.O. 924(E) dated 27th February 2024, issued under sub- section (1) of section (3) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) declared the Jamaat-e-Islami (Jel), Jammu and Kashmir as an unlawful association; and
“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 reads.
The validity of the Managing Committee of 215 such schools has expired and have been reported adversely upon by the Intelligence Agencies; the order reads further.
“Now therefore, in view of the above and in order to safeguard the academic future of the students enrolled in these schools in exercise of the powers conferred by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir through The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Rules 2010 notified vide SRO 123 of 2010 read with SRO 292 of 2018 and SO 177 of 2022, it is hereby ordered that 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 Concerned District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner, on taking over these Schools, shall take appropriate steps in consultation and in coordination with School Education Department so that to ensure that the academic career of the students enrolled in these schools is not affected in any manner, the order, a copy of which lies with GNS, reads further. “He shall also take all necessary measures to ensure quality education as per NEP norms in these schools.”
The seven-page order gives a complete list of the 215 schools that will henceforth come under direct control of the respective DCs. On top are given the names of 37 schools in the Anantnag district, once considered a stronghold of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The Bandipora district has only six such schools with Baramullah accounting for 52 schools, Budgam for 19 schools, Ganderbal only six, Kulgam has 15, Kupwara has 35, Pulwama has 21, Shopian 14 and Srinagar only four.
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