Kolkata: West Bengal has ordered 252 madrassas to shut and issued show-cause notices to around 100 others after a state-wide survey flagged shortcomings in their approval status and basic infrastructure, officials said on Sunday.

The action follows a field-level exercise conducted by the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department across all districts of the state since early June.

The survey was aimed at establishing a clearer picture of the madrassas operating in West Bengal, including their infrastructure, official approvals and management systems.

Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department Minister Kshudiram Tudu said institutions that possess the requisite approvals would be allowed to continue functioning.

‘As many as 252 madrassas have been ordered to close while 100 others have been sent show-cause notices for lacking requisite approvals and basic infrastructure,’ Tudu said.

The institutions served show-cause notices will be given an opportunity to respond, following which the government will examine their replies before deciding on further action, officials said.

The survey was undertaken following directions from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to determine the number of authorised and unauthorised madrassas functioning across different districts of West Bengal.

The government’s move has also brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding the functioning and oversight of madrassas in the state.

State Panchayati Raj Minister Dilip Ghosh said complaints about such institutions had been received repeatedly and alleged that there had been instances in which people arrested over their alleged involvement in extremist activities were found working as teachers at some madrassas.

‘There have been instances of people carrying out anti-national activities from seminaries,’ Ghosh said, while arguing that institutions operating within the law and holding government permission would not be affected by the exercise.

‘Madrassas being run in accordance with the law and with government permission will continue to function. But the government will not allow madrassas to be opened indiscriminately and cause trouble,’ he said.

The government’s stated focus, however, remains on distinguishing between institutions operating with the required permissions and those that do not meet the prescribed requirements.

Opposition Trinamool Congress MLA Kunal Ghosh cautioned against treating all madrassas alike.

He said the institutions should not be ‘painted with the same brush’, pushing back against a blanket characterisation of madrassas based on allegations involving some institutions.

The state-wide survey therefore marks a significant administrative scrutiny of madrassas in West Bengal, with 252 institutions facing closure and around 100 more awaiting further action following their responses to the government notices.