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The West Bengal government has issued closure notices to 252 madrasas across the state and served show-cause notices on another 100, following a survey of madrasa institutions, Indian Express Bengali and other reports said on Sunday.
The action was taken after inspections found several institutions lacking basic infrastructure and failing to meet prescribed educational and administrative requirements.
Authorities cited inadequate classrooms, low numbers of students and teachers, deviations from the state-prescribed syllabus and non-compliance with administrative rules among the concerns.
The survey, conducted by the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department, covered madrasas in 22 districts and Kolkata.
Officials said 2,132 madrasas were operating with the required approvals, while around 2,396 institutions were found to be running without necessary government registration or affiliation.
Most of the 252 institutions served with closure notices are reportedly khariji madrasas, which operate outside the formal government-affiliated madrasa system.
West Bengal Minority Development Minister Khudiram Tudu said the institutions receiving show-cause notices would have to explain their status and demonstrate that they had adequate facilities to continue operating.
If their responses are found unsatisfactory, similar action could be taken against them.
The highest number of closure notices was issued in Malda, with around 44–45 institutions affected, followed by North Dinajpur, with around 37.
The government said the verification process would continue and that action against unauthorised institutions would be taken on the basis of evidence and in accordance with the law.
