The Maharashtra government on Thursday, June 25, admitted in the Legislative Council that it is facing difficulties in shifting students from illegal schools in Mumbai to civic-run schools. This comes after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) found 164 illegal primary schools during the 2025–2026 academic year and ordered them to shut down.
School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse gave the information in a written reply to questions raised by BJP member Shrikant Bharatiya and Shiv Sena members Sachin Ahir and Anil Parab. He said the reason is that municipal schools are already taking two shifts and serve densely populated slum localities.
The illegal schools were found in Mumbai and nearby areas. From these, 145 are English-medium schools. Most of them are located in Deonar, Mankhurd, Malad, Kandivali and Kurla. Deonar and Mankhurd together account for 65 schools, while Malad has 25. Kurla and Kandivali have 12 illegal schools each.
Bhuse informed the House that the number of illegal schools has reduced compared to previous years. During the 2022–2023 academic year, authorities had identified 210 unauthorised schools in Mumbai.
Last week, the Mumbai Police registered a case against the principals, secretaries and management of three unauthorised schools in Govandi. The schools are run by different trusts and a foundation. They continued operating despite receiving closure orders from the education department.
The BMC also initiated legal action against 53 schools operating without government approval. All of these schools are located in slum areas of the city. The cases were registered after complaints filed by the civic body.
Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya also raised concerns over the illegal schools in the M-East ward, which covers Govandi, Mankhurd and parts of Deonar. He said that 34 per cent of the 849 schools declared unauthorised by the BMC education department over the past four academic years are located in this ward. This brings the total number of illegal schools identified in the ward over four academic years to 289
In a letter sent to BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Monday, Somaiya stated that many of these schools continue to function despite the civic body publishing annual lists of illegal schools and issuing notices against them.