The Jammu & Kashmir government has ordered takeover of over 200 private schools in the Valley on the ground that they were affiliated with the outlawed Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir.However, J&K’s Education Minister Sakina Itoo alleged that the order had been modified “without her knowledge”.A government order from Education Secretary Ram Niwas Sharma says the intelligence agencies found 215 schools to be “directly or indirectly affiliated” with Jamaat-e-Islami or with the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT), an education trust linked to the outlawed organisation.The order, issued by the school education department that falls under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has asked deputy commissioners to take over the management of these schools.The Union Home Ministry, the order claims, had outlawed Jamaat in 2019, and that managing committees of these schools had “expired/have been reported adversely upon by the Intelligence Agencies”.The order also directs deputy commissioners to take over these schools and propose new committees for them.“Now, therefore, in view of the above and in order to safeguard the academic future of the students enrolled in these schools in exercise of the powers conferred by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir … it is hereby ordered that: The Managing Committee of the 215 schools… shall be taken over by the District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner concerned, who shall propose a fresh Managing Committee in due course for the concerned schools after getting these duly verified,” the order says.Story continues below this adIt goes on to say that the district magistrate or deputy commissioners, “on taking over these Schools, shall take appropriate steps in consultation and in coordination with the School Education Department so that to ensure that the academic career of the students enrolled in these schools is not affected in any manner”.“He (deputy commissioner) shall also take all necessary measures to ensure quality education as per NEP norms in these schools,” it says.This comes three years after the Lieutenant Governor’s administration ordered schools run by the FAT to be sealed.The schools whose takeovers have been ordered are mostly run at the community level and managed by mohalla committees. Of the 215, the highest – 96 – are in North Kashmir: 54 in Baramulla, 36 in Kupwara and six in Bandipora. There are 89 in South Kashmir: 37 in Anantnag, 21 in Pulwama, 16 in Kulgam and 15 in Shopian.Story continues below this adOnly 30 fall in Central Kashmir — 20 in Budgam, six in Ganderbal and four in Srinagar.On her part, Education Minister Itoo said the decision had been taken in the interest of the students, but that the order had been modified without her knowledge.“The case file was with me. There were adverse police reports against these institutes and the management committee had also expired,” she told The Indian Express. “Since the future of 51,363 students was at stake and they (students) had huge problems during the registration with the board (of school education), we decided to have them looked after by the principals of the government schools. The students, the teachers and the buildings would be the same.”Itoo, however, said she had not ordered deputy commissioners to take over these schools.Story continues below this ad“We had decided that the school management would be given to the principal of the nearest government schools. The list of the principals proposed is also before me,” she said.Handiwara MLA and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference chief condemned the move.In a post on X, he said: “215 schools forcibly taken over by the J and K Government. And no prizes for guessing. The elected government has passed the order. Shame and shamelessness have assumed new meanings in this government. They are setting new standards in servility. And just to recall the sermons the edicts that this party passed against their opponents”.He went on to say: “Be under no illusions. This elected government is a party to all acts undertaken. Be it mailings or termination of employees, they are equal partners. They have been equal partners in the past. And they will be equal partners in the future. This is the A team. This was always the A team”.