India's Maharashtra state to take over Zakir Naik's school

The scholar's Islamic Research Foundation has been banned as an 'unlawful association'

A day after the Indian government banned Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for five years, the Maharashtra state government has announced plans to take over its International Islamic School school in Mumbai.

According to the Times of India, the ban on IRF was enforced under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and approved at a meeting of the Union Cabinet on November 16.

Indian School and Higher Education Minister Vinod Tawde said the ministry will start implementing the ban once a notification in this regard is received.



"We will follow the due process to implement the ban. We will ensure students and teachers do not suffer. How we take over the school will be decided later,'' Tawde said.

Another senior official of the education department said the state will ensure that the banned organisation’s trustees and office-bearers do not have the authority over the management.



"We are not sure if we will be able to appoint an administrator immediately or we should wait till the end of the current academic session. We will take the law and judiciary department's opinion before taking a decision,'' he said.

In September, India banned the NGO from receiving foreign funds directly. The Indian home ministry slapped the ban on the grounds that it was carrying out activities contrary to the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA). It also directed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to seek prior permission before giving funds to the NGO.