Mumbai issues closure notices to 164 unrecognised schools; eight shut

Mumbai’s school education department said it has issued closure notices to 164 schools in the BMC area that were operating without required recognition. The civic body has shut eight of them, it said.

Officials said around 1,200 students at these schools will be shifted to nearby government, BMC, aided or recognised private schools so they do not lose an academic year. Of the 164 schools identified, 45 have submitted recognition proposals for approval. The department said it has reported the remaining 119 for deactivation of their UDISE numbers and filed complaints with senior police officers.

The action covers Shivajinagar-Govandi, Malvani and Deonar, among other areas. FIRs have been filed against 77 schools in Mumbai, officials said.

Across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad, the Mumbai division of the school education department said at least 452 schools have received closure notices. It reported police complaints against 190 schools, deactivation of UDISE numbers for 43 schools, and penalties against 296 schools.

School inspectors have been authorised to file criminal complaints against the managements of unrecognised schools. The department said schools that continue operating after a closure notice may face a ₹1 lakh fine and a further ₹10,000 for each day of continued operation under the Right to Education Act.