SRINAGAR: Baramulla district has recorded the highest number of educational institutions taken over by the Jammu and Kashmir Government after it assumed control of 215 schools formerly run under the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT), an educational arm of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).
According to official figures, Baramulla tops the list with 53 such schools, followed by Anantnag with 37, Kupwara with 36, Pulwama with 21, Budgam with 20, Kulgam with 16, Shopian with 15, Bandipora and Ganderbal with six each, and Srinagar with four.
Some institutions are also functional in parts of the Jammu region.
The takeover follows two Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notifications, issued in February 2019 and February 2024, which declared JeI JK an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967.
After the ban, intelligence agencies were tasked with investigating organisations and institutions still connected to JeI.
Their reports revealed that many FAT-run schools were either directly controlled by members of the group or continued to function under its influence.
On Friday, authorities finally issued an order to take over the schools. By Saturday morning, teams from the district administration and police visited the institutions across the Valley and assumed management.
Together, the 215 institutions are home to nearly 51,000 students and employ close to 4,000 teachers and non-teaching staff.
Authorities assured that the immediate focus will be on safeguarding the academic interests of students and ensuring continuity of classes.
“To avoid disruptions, principals from nearby government schools have been temporarily assigned to oversee the functioning of these institutions until permanent management committees are formed,” Education Minister Sakina Itoo said.
The Falah-e-Aam Trust was originally established with the stated aim of promoting education, particularly in rural and underserved areas of Jammu and Kashmir. (KINS)
