Illegal Private Schools in Assam: 200 Institutes violate recognition norms; More than 10 in Sonitpur & Dibrugarh

The Government of Assam has intensified its crackdown on illegal private schools in Assam that are operating in violation of statutory regulations and safety protocols. The Directorate of Secondary Education, Assam, has issued an order directing District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) and Inspectors of Schools across 25 districts to cancel the registrations and halt the operations of non-compliant private institutions.

This initiative enforces the provisions of the Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation and Management) Act, 2006 (amended in 2018). Parents, school administrators, and public stakeholders are advised to verify the administrative recognition status of private educational institutions operating across the state.

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Understanding the Case: Crackdown on Illegal Private Schools in Assam

In a comprehensive regulatory crackdown against Illegal Private Schools in Assam, the Education Department, Government of Assam, has taken a firm stand against non-compliant non-government educational institutions operating across the state. Following a detailed review by the state-level Administrative Recognition Committee – headed by the Director of Secondary Education and Director of Elementary Education- over a hundred private schools were found to be functioning without valid administrative recognition or final registration.

Under the statutory provisions of the Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation and Management) Act, 2006 (and its subsequent amendments), obtaining initial provisional permission to establish an institution is merely the first phase. Schools must meet strict infrastructural, safety, and operational criteria within a two-year window to earn formal Administrative Recognition. Many illegal private schools in Assam, or defaulting institutions, failed to complete this mandatory process and continued to operate unlawfully, admit students, and collect fees in violation of state norms.

The crackdown encompasses institutions spread across 25 districts: Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Charaideo, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Sribhumi, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Hojai, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, South Salmara-Mankachar, and Tinsukia.

The list of the institutes for some of the districts is given as follows:

Sl. No.	Name of the Institute	District
1	Dimension Academy Senior Secondary School, Tezpur	Sonitpur
2	Jamira Jatiya Vidyalaya	Dibrugarh
3	Biswanath Abhyasan Vidyapeeth	Sonitpur
4	Jatiya Vidyalaya, Chabua	Dibrugarh
5	Gyandeep Academy Senior Secondary School	Sonitpur
6	ACC Niketan, Lahowal	Dibrugarh
7	Sankardev Sishu Niketan, Borgang	Sonitpur
8	Madarkhat Goriyoshi Jatiya Vidyalaya, Lahowal	Dibrugarh
9	Stephen Hawking Academy, Rotowa	Sonitpur
10	Sampurna Kendriya Vidyalaya, Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
11	Royal Public Senior Secondary School	Sonitpur
12	Indreshwar Sarma Academy Senior Secondary School, Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
13	Naduar Senior Secondary School	Sonitpur
14	Peace Cottage School (Universal Peace Academy), Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
15	Bodofa Upendra National Academy, Batasipur	Sonitpur
16	Duliajan Senior Secondary School, Duliajan	Dibrugarh
17	Sankar Dev Shishu Niketan, Milanpur	Sonitpur
18	Paragon M.G. Academy, Chabua	Dibrugarh
19	Gohpur Town Senior Secondary School	Sonitpur
20	Dikom Jatiya Vidyalaya	Dibrugarh
21	Resonance Senior Secondary School, Dhekiajuli	Sonitpur
22	Purbanchal Jatiya Vidyalaya, Barbaruah	Dibrugarh
23	Little Star H.S. School, Tengakhat	Dibrugarh
24	St. Xavier’s School, Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
25	Monfort School, Chabua	Dibrugarh
26	C.G. Purbanchal Sr. Secondary School, Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
27	Sacred Grove Academy, Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
28	Brahmaputra Jatiya Vidyalaya, Moricha Gaon, Chabua	Dibrugarh
29	Barbaruah Jatiya Vidyalaya, Barbaruah	Dibrugarh
30	Brahmaputra Valley Academy, Mohanaghat	Dibrugarh
31	DDC Memorial High School, Tingrai Chariali	Dibrugarh
32	Little Flower H.S. School, Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh
33	Bhadoi Senior Secondary School, Bhadoi Panchali	Dibrugarh
34	Joypur Jatiya Vidyalaya, Joypur	Dibrugarh
35	Holy Child English Academy, Moranhat	Dibrugarh
36	Aniruddha Dev Jatiya Vidyalaya, Chabua	Dibrugarh
37	Dibrugarh Adarsha Vidyalaya, Lahowal	Dibrugarh
38	Asam Vidyaniketan / Swadhyay Academy Sr. Secondary School	Dibrugarh

Key Violations Identified by the Education Department

1. Lack of Land Documentation & Title Deeds:
   • Violation: Institutions failed to present valid, unencumbered land title deeds, patta records, or long-term registered lease agreements in the name of the school or its governing trust/society.
   • Impact: Lacking legal ownership or secure land tenure jeopardises the permanence and long-term stability of the campus, exposing students and staff to sudden evictions or property disputes.
2. Inadequate Accessibility & Safety Risk:
   • Violation: Schools operate in congested areas accessed only by narrow lanes or private alleys that do not meet minimum width standards.
   • Impact: The absence of proper approach roads prevents emergency vehicles, fire tenders, and ambulances from accessing the building during structural fires, natural disasters, or medical emergencies, posing a severe threat to student safety.
3. Premises & Building Infrastructure Violations:
   • Violation: Institutions run commercial educational operations out of unapproved residential buildings, rented row houses, or cramped temporary structures without obtaining commercial land-use conversion.
   • Impact: These structures lack standard classroom dimensions (minimum mandatory specifications under the rules), proper ventilation, fire safety equipment, separate sanitation facilities for boys and girls, and open space required for physical education and recreation.
4. Address Discrepancies & Unauthorised Branch Relocation:
   • Violation: School management obtained initial provisional permissions or NOCs for a specific rural or semi-urban geographic location but covertly established their physical operations in different, densely populated commercial zones.
   • Impact: Misrepresenting the school’s physical location bypasses localised urban planning, traffic assessments, and site-inspection protocols conducted by district inspectors.

Consequences and Regulatory Enforcement

As a result of these persistent non-compliances by illegal private schools in Assam, the Directorate of Secondary Education has instructed District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) and Inspectors of Schools (IS) across all 25 districts to issue cancellation notices and halt institutional operations.

• Prohibition on Admissions: Defaulting schools are legally barred from enrolling new students for upcoming academic sessions.
• Invalidation of Certificates: Transfer Certificates (TCs) issued by unrecognised institutions will not be countersigned or validated by the state education authorities.
• Complete Closure: Institutions failing to rectify deficiencies and obtain formal recognition face permanent operational shutdown and administrative deregistration.

How to Apply for Administrative Recognition in Assam?

Educational institutions or Illegal Private Schools in Assam seeking to obtain or renew valid administrative recognition must submit their applications digitally through the official portal.

Steps for Application

1. Access Portal & Registration: You will be redirected to the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) / Sewa Setu portal for this service. If not already registered, click the Register Tab at the top right corner of the page and complete registration using your Full Name, Mobile Number, Email ID, State, and Password.
2. Login: Log in with your registered credentials by clicking the Login Tab.
3. Select Service: After logging in, click the Apply Online tab, select the service for administrative recognition, and click Apply after reviewing the requirements tab.
4. Form Filling & Document Upload: Complete the application form with accurate institutional details and upload all required supporting documents (including land records, fire safety NOC, and building safety certificates).
5. Fee Payment: Submit the form and pay the requisite application fee online.
6. Processing & Tracking: Upon successful payment, the application is forwarded to higher officials, including the Director of Secondary Education and the Administrative Recognition Committee. An acknowledgement containing an application reference number will be sent via SMS and Email.
7. Issuance of Certificate: Notifications regarding the status of the service will be sent via SMS and Email. Upon final approval, the administrative recognition certificate can be downloaded directly from the ARTPS portal.

Important Links

Assam Non-Government Educational Institutions (Regulation and Management) Act, 2006

Application for Administrative Recognition (Elementary & Secondary Education)

Official Website

Frequently Asked Question

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