J&K govt takes over 58 schools linked to banned Jamaat-e-Islami

The Jammu and Kashmir government has taken over the management of 58 private schools in the Valley that were found to be linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its affiliate, the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT).

Officials said the action was taken after intelligence inputs indicated that these institutions were directly or indirectly associated with the proscribed organisation. In several cases, the management committees of the schools had either completed their tenure or were reported adversely by agencies.

The School Education Department has directed the respective deputy commissioners to assume control of the institutions and oversee their functioning. Authorities have also been asked to propose new, verified management committees to ensure that academic activities continue without disruption.

Most of the affected schools are located in north Kashmir, although the government has not officially released the full list of institutions.

The move is part of a broader administrative effort to regulate educational institutions linked to banned organisations. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had declared Jamaat-e-Islami an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), with the ban extended in 2024.

Officials said the latest action follows a similar exercise carried out in 2025, when the administration took control of over 200 schools affiliated with the same organisation across Jammu and Kashmir.

Authorities maintained that the primary objective is to safeguard students’ academic interests while ensuring that schools operate under regulated and lawful management.