Kolkata: Three months after the West Bengal government began a detailed survey of madrasas operating across the state, authorities have ordered the closure of 252 institutions and issued showcause notices to another 100.

The action followed a statewide exercise aimed at collecting detailed information about madrasa management, teachers, students, infrastructure, funding sources and academic activities.

Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Minister Kshudiram Tudu said on Saturday that 252 madrasas had already been shut, while 100 others were asked to explain their status and functioning.

“We have shut 252 madrasas and issued showcause notices to 100 others. These madrasas will have to respond, and if their replies are found to be unsatisfactory, then we will take action against them too,” Tudu said.

Malda tops closure list

According to sources in the state Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department, Malda has the highest number of madrasas included in the closure list, with 45 institutions.

The district is followed by Uttar Dinajpur with 37 madrasas. South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Nadia have 25 institutions each on the closure list.

Malda and several of the other districts with a high number of affected institutions are located close to or have significant stretches along West Bengal’s border regions.

Survey covered 22 districts

The survey covered all 22 districts of West Bengal as well as different parts of Kolkata, according to the state government.

Officials collected information relating to the management of madrasas, teaching staff, students, infrastructure, sources of funding and other institutional details.

A special team was subsequently sent by the state government to verify information collected during the survey.

The survey was ordered in June with the stated objective of obtaining authentic district-wise data on madrasas and understanding their academic and administrative status.

The government had said the exercise was intended primarily for administrative and educational planning, including child welfare measures and maintenance of educational records.

It had also stated that the exercise could help identify irregularities or unlawful activities, if any, and enable authorities to take corrective measures.

2,396 madrasas reportedly operating without approval

According to the survey report, 2,132 madrasas are operating with proper approval from the authorities.

In contrast, 2,396 were found to be functioning without permission from any government board or the required authority, an official said.

The government’s latest action includes 252 closures, while another 100 institutions have been given an opportunity to respond through showcause notices.

The authorities are expected to examine the replies before deciding whether further action is warranted against the institutions that have received notices.

BJP backs government action

The ruling BJP has supported the action against the unapproved madrasas.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the action should have been taken much earlier. He also referred to concerns raised by former West Bengal chief minister and CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya about activities at certain madrasas.

BJP MLA and Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh also defended the government’s decision, alleging that some madrasas had previously been linked to cases involving alleged terrorist activities.

Ghosh said institutions complying with the rules should continue operating, but argued that madrasas should not be allowed to function without proper approval.

The government has maintained that the survey and subsequent action are aimed at establishing proper records and identifying irregularities.

TMC opposes broad-brush approach

The move has drawn criticism from the Opposition Trinamool Congress.

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said all madrasas should not be treated alike and criticised what he described as an attempt to associate the madrasa education system with terrorism.

Ghosh argued that madrasa education is an established form of education and said creating a broader narrative around alleged criminal activities at some institutions was inappropriate.

The latest action has therefore triggered a political debate in West Bengal, with the BJP government stressing regulatory compliance and the need to identify unauthorised institutions, while the TMC has cautioned against portraying the entire madrasa education system negatively.

The government’s next steps will depend in part on the responses submitted by the 100 institutions that have received showcause notices.