The Bombay High Court has indicated that 14 unrecognised schools in Malwani, Malad West, may be allowed to operate until March-April 2027 so students can complete the academic year. The court asked the Maharashtra government to consider deferring closure and posted the PIL for further hearing in January 2027.

Mumbai, November 4, 2026: Observing that students should not bear the brunt of the authorities’ failure to act against unrecognised schools for years, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday indicated that 14 such schools in Malwani, Malad West, could be allowed to continue functioning until March-April 2027 so that students can complete the current academic year without disruption.

“Right now, we are concerned about the students. The transition has to be slow. You cannot uproot students from tomorrow,” a bench of Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna observed, asking the state government to take instructions on whether it was willing to defer the schools’ closure.

The bench said that while institutions could not be allowed to operate indefinitely without the necessary permissions, students should not suffer because of the authorities’ failure to take timely action.

Court Questions Delay In Action Against Schools

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Nazir Khan, challenging the civic body’s action against the 14 allegedly unauthorised schools.