BMC demolishes unauthorised Tehzeeb Islamic English School building in Govandi
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday began demolishing the building of the unauthorised Tehzeeb Islamic English School in Govandi, Mumbai. The action marks the civic body’s first demolition drive against an illegal school building as part of an ongoing city-wide crackdown.
Before the demolition commenced, municipal authorities ensured that all enrolled students were relocated to recognised schools. According to Nisar Khan, officer in charge of the private schools section of the BMC’s education department, the school management confirmed that approximately 250 students had been admitted to nearby recognised institutions.
Ujwal Ingole, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner of the M-East ward, stated that the demolition was initiated only after the education department verified that no students were left in the building. The civic body had previously placed warning boards outside the school to advise parents against enrolling their children there.
The demolition is part of a broader campaign against illegal educational institutions. In March, the BMC's education department published a list of 164 unauthorised schools operating across Mumbai. Since the list's publication, FIRs have been registered against 74 schools, including 34 in the M-East ward alone. Ingole noted that many of these schools operate from unauthorised and structurally unsafe buildings, posing safety risks to children.
The policy of demolishing unauthorised school buildings to prevent them from reopening was recently discussed at a BMC Education Committee meeting, following a suggestion by committee member Neil Somaiya. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya was present at the Govandi site on Tuesday during the demolition.
Parents of the students confirmed they had shifted their children after learning about the school's illegal status. One parent of a Class II student shared that they secured admission at another school in May.
However, the timing of the action drew criticism from some groups. Shabana Khan, a representative of the Slum Private School Management Association, questioned why the BMC carried out the demolition during the monsoon. She noted that the association has filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court to quash the FIRs against the schools and has urged the government to expedite slum redevelopment so schools can operate from permanent buildings.
