Srinagar, Aug 23: Along with the police, teams of officers along with the police visited schools with banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) in 10 districts of Kashmir, as the JK government took over its management on Saturday.
According to officials, the entire process was “peacefully and smoothly”, without harassing the students’ education.
The Department of School Education on Friday ordered the acquisition of 215 schools associated with JEI and its Fala-e-Aam Trust, where more than 51,000 students have been enrolled, so that for “protecting their educational future”.
On Saturday morning, the district administration officials, the principal of the nearest high and higher secondary schools, reached these schools, along with the police teams. Officials said the administrative teams took charge of the schools, investigated their documents and infrastructure, as well as interacted with the employees.
The move criticized political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including PDP, People’s Conference and APNI party, which called it “administrative overache”.
Justice and Development Front (JDF) JK – Formed by former members of the banned JEI – condemned the government’s move, saying it was a “painful reminder” of the “history of betrayal” of the national conference.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said that it is unfortunate that the ruling party in JK is “going against its own people and implementing the BJP’s agenda”.
However, one of such schools in Anantnag district of South Kashmir welcomed the government’s move.
“I think this is a good step. We used to face a lot of difficulties, but now I think everything will be organized,” Mohammad Ishaq, said Mohammad Ishaq, teacher of the Hanfia Islamia Institute in the Tachlu region of the district.
He said that District Magistrates used to frame the management bodies of schools in the 1980s.
Alia Irshad, a student in the school, said that the move will benefit the students and employees. “The school will improve and prosper,” he said.
He also demanded that the government increases the salaries of the employees as they work very hard for the students.
Friday’s order said, “The managing committee of 215 schools will be handled by the District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner, which will propose a fresh management committee for the respective schools in a fixed time for the respective schools.”
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, on 28 February 2019 and again on 27 February 2024, declared the jail as an illegal association under the illegal activities (prevention) Act.
“Intelligence agencies have identified several schools, which were found to be associated with the Jamat-e-Islami (Jail)/Falah-AAM Trust (Fat), directly or indirectly prosecuted,” said the order.
It states that the validity of the management committees of these schools has ended, and these panels have also been “reported adversely” by intelligence agencies.
The order states that it has been decided to handle the management committees of such schools to protect the educational future of students enrolled in these schools.
The concerned District Magistrate/ Deputy Commissioner will take appropriate steps in coordination with the counseling and school education department to ensure that the educational career of students enrolled in these schools is not affected in any way.
Education Minister Sakina Itu, however, said that schools will be taken care of by the principals of nearby or higher secondary schools. He said that on Friday, the draft approved by him mentioned that the cluster principal would take care of these schools, which are contrary to the order issued by an IAS officer, the secretary of the school education department, who reports to LG.