FAT School Takeover: Contradictions, Confusion & Political Fallout in Jammu & Kashmir

Falah-e-Aam Trust Takeover: Contradictions, Confusion & Political Fallout

By: Javid Amin | 23 Aug 2025

The Jammu & Kashmir government’s recent decision to take over 215 schools run by the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) — an educational wing historically linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) — has set off a political storm.

What should have been a straightforward administrative order has instead turned into a crisis of contradictions:

On one side, the School Education Department issued an order authorizing district magistrates to assume control of these schools.
On the other, the Education Minister Sakina Itoo publicly denied that any such takeover had been ordered, accusing her own officials of altering her directives without consent.

This extraordinary contradiction has deepened political divides, confused students and parents, and sparked heated debates over governance, identity, and education in Jammu & Kashmir.

At stake are not just 215 schools and 51,000 students, but also the credibility of the elected government, the balance between bureaucracy and political authority, and the future of education in a conflict-ridden region.

What is FAT & Its Link to Jamaat-e-Islami?

To understand why the FAT school takeover has become such a flashpoint, we must revisit the history of the Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) and its connection with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).

Origins of Jamaat-e-Islami in Kashmir

Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) is one of the oldest socio-religious organizations in Kashmir.
It has historically combined religious preaching, social service, and education with a distinct Islamist worldview.
Over decades, JeI set up a parallel education system in Kashmir, aiming to provide modern schooling infused with Islamic values.

Creation of Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT)

FAT was established as a charitable trust to run schools, educational initiatives, and community programs.
These schools became known for their discipline, quality teaching, and relatively affordable fees.
Many FAT schools were especially popular in rural and semi-urban Kashmir, where state-run schools often suffered from poor infrastructure and absentee teachers.

Growth & Reach

By the late 1990s and 2000s, FAT had hundreds of schools across J&K.
Estimates suggest that over 50,000 students are currently enrolled in FAT institutions.
The trust’s network produced not only clerics and scholars but also doctors, engineers, and professionals, making it a key part of Kashmir’s educational fabric.

Why Controversial?

The Indian state has long viewed JeI with suspicion, linking it to separatist politics and alleged militant sympathies.
In 2019, after the Pulwama terror attack, Jamaat-e-Islami was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
FAT, being organizationally linked to JeI, has since been under intense scrutiny.

Thus, while FAT schools are academically significant, they exist in a grey zone of legitimacy, caught between community trust and state suspicion.

The Takeover Order

The controversy began when the School Education Department issued a formal order directing district magistrates to:

Take control of 215 FAT-run schools across Jammu & Kashmir.
Justify the move by citing:
1. Expiry of FAT’s management tenure, and
2. Adverse intelligence reports about the schools’ functioning and affiliations.

This order, in black-and-white, suggested a clear government decision to assume direct control of the institutions.

Immediate Consequences

District officials began preparations to oversee schools.
Parents feared disruption in academics and possible “politicization” of education.
Teachers and staff faced uncertainty about their contracts and future.

It appeared, at least initially, that the state had decisively moved against FAT.

Minister’s Denial & the Contradiction

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Education Minister Sakina Itoo publicly denied the takeover.

She stated:

“No such takeover has happened yet.”
Her original draft only authorized temporary oversight by cluster principals, not district magistrates.
She accused the Education Secretary of altering her draft without her approval.

This rare public contradiction between a Minister and her own department exposed a serious governance crisis.

Why It Matters

Erosion of Trust: If ministers disown official orders, citizens lose faith in governance.
Power Struggle: It raises questions about whether bureaucrats are acting independently of elected leaders — or whether the Minister is distancing herself from an unpopular move.
Confusion on the Ground: Students, parents, and teachers don’t know who to believe, creating chaos in schools.

In a politically sensitive region like J&K, such contradictions are not just embarrassing — they can become ammunition for opposition parties.

Political Reactions: A Divided Landscape

The FAT takeover has polarized political opinion in Jammu & Kashmir.

PDP (Mehbooba Mufti, Waheed Para, Iltija Mufti)

Branded it an attack on Kashmiri identity and institutions.
Alleged the move was part of BJP’s agenda, carried out by NC in power.
Accused NC of continuing its historic hostility toward Jamaat-e-Islami.

Apni Party (Altaf Bukhari)

Called it “regrettable” and “unnecessary.”
Suggested regulatory oversight instead of direct control.
Warned against alienating communities by targeting educational institutions.

People’s Conference (Sajad Lone)

Slammed NC for “shameless servility.”
Claimed the party is betraying Kashmiris for political survival.

Justice & Development Front (JDF)

Called the decision administrative overreach.
Linked it to NC’s history of betraying socio-religious institutions in Kashmir.

Awami Itihaad Party (Engineer Rashid’s AIP)

Accused NC of prioritizing power games over students’ futures.

BJP

The only party openly supporting the decision.
Framed it as a step toward “deradicalizing education” and ensuring FAT schools are aligned with the national mainstream.

NC in the Dock

The National Conference (NC), which leads the current government, finds itself in a defensive position.

The Education Department’s order exists on paper, and bureaucrats acted on it.
Yet the Education Minister’s denial creates confusion.
Opposition parties accuse NC of complicity with BJP’s anti-Kashmir agenda.

Mehbooba Mufti put it bluntly:

“If it was so urgent, why didn’t the L-G administration do it during Central rule? Why only now, under NC?”

This framing portrays NC as either weak and servile or actively collaborating with the BJP. Either way, the optics are damaging.

Impact on Students, Parents & Teachers

While political parties spar, the real stakeholders — 51,000 students enrolled in FAT schools — face the consequences.

Students: Uncertain about exams, curriculum continuity, and stigma attached to FAT schools.
Parents: Fearful of disruption and worried about their children being branded as “radicalized.”
Teachers: Many worry about job insecurity, delayed salaries, or forced integration into government systems.
Community Trust: FAT schools are deeply woven into community identity; state takeover risks being seen as cultural intrusion.

The government insists education will continue “uninterrupted,” but the lack of clarity undermines this assurance.

Historical Context: Past Crackdowns on JeI & Schools

This is not the first time FAT or JeI-linked institutions have faced state action.

1970s: Sheikh Abdullah’s government cracked down on Jamaat-e-Islami networks.
1990s: During peak militancy, JeI institutions were often targeted and shut down.
2019: Jamaat-e-Islami was formally banned after Pulwama, leading to arrests, seizures, and restrictions on FAT schools.

Each crackdown deepened mistrust between state and society — a cycle that seems to be repeating in 2025.

Governance, Identity & Politics

The FAT takeover raises deeper questions about governance in J&K:

Bureaucracy vs. Elected Government: Who truly holds power when a minister and her department contradict each other?
State vs. Society: Can the state regulate education without appearing to erase cultural-religious identity?
Mainstream vs. Regional Politics: NC is being squeezed — painted as both collaborator with BJP and betrayer of Kashmiri institutions.
Education as Battlefield: Schools have become arenas where politics, ideology, and identity collide.

Future Scenarios

Full Government Takeover: If the order stands, FAT schools may be absorbed into the state system — but risk losing community trust.
Partial Oversight: Government may settle for curriculum monitoring, leaving management with FAT.
Rollback Under Pressure: Political backlash could force NC to dilute or withdraw the order.
Legal Challenges: FAT or affected parents may approach courts, prolonging uncertainty.

In each scenario, students remain the most vulnerable, caught between politics and bureaucracy.

Conclusion

The FAT school takeover is more than an administrative order — it is a mirror of Kashmir’s complex politics.

It exposes contradictions within government, where ministers disown official decisions.
It reveals polarization among parties, with NC accused of collusion and BJP championing the move.
It raises fundamental questions about education, identity, and governance in post-Article 370 J&K.

Until the government offers a clear, transparent, and unified policy, the biggest losers will be the students — 51,000 young lives caught in the crossfire of politics and power.