Illegal Thane schools: Cops take charge

Activist Abdul Mannan Abdul Rashid Kazi outside Al-Haadi and Maktab Public School, in Thane’s Rabodi, which is among the 43 illegal institutions, on Wednesday. Pic/Sameer Markande

The Thane civic body has finally filed a police complaint against 43 unauthorised schools for defying the closure order. While the police are conducting their probe, these institutions are operating without any fear. The schools have even accepted new students while concealing their illegal status from the parents, said an activist.

The 43 schools not only ignored repeated notices, but went ahead and admitted students in the new academic year while concealing its illegal status from the parents, said officials. In Thane, particularly in the Kausa area of Mumbra, 47 schools were found to be running without the authorisation of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the officials added. While two shut down after receiving notices from the education department, two others have applied for self-financed status.

Now, the remaining 43 schools are facing an FIR, which was registered under Section 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code on July 4.

Balasaheb Rakshe, education officer of TMC, said the action is being taken in accordance with Section 18 (5) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which states: ‘Anyone establishing or running a school without obtaining a certificate of recognition or continuing to operate a school after recognition withdrawal is liable to a fine of up to R1 lakh. In case of continued contraventions, a fine of R10,000 per day may be imposed.'

Rakshe said, "Notices were issued to these schools multiple times after these were declared unauthorised. A one-time fine of Rs 1 lakh has already been imposed, and an Rs 10,000 per day has been levied for staying open after receiving the notice. These schools have neither paid the fine, nor shut down." Abdul Mannan Abdul Rashid Kazi, an activist and a complainant in the matter, pointed out that these schools are brazenly going about their business despite the FIR.

"These schools are jeopardising the academic career of students by taking in new admissions. I had complained about one Al-Haadi and Maktab Public School in Thane's Rabodi multiple times. The TMC filed a police complaint against this school last month, but it still continues to operate," he said. "Now, the police are investigating the matter and they will take action," said Rakshe on concerns that schools are operating despite the FIR.

July 4
Day the FIR was filed against the schools

Two
No of schools seeking self-financed status