Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an immediate stay on minority educational institution status granted to 75 institutions after the approvals were issued in the days following the death of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28.The directive, issued on Monday, calls for a comprehensive review of the clearances amid questions over the timing and process under which the institutions were accorded minority status. Officials in Mumbai confirmed that the chief minister has asked the school education department to examine whether due procedure was followed and to submit a report at the earliest.
Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and a dominant figure in state politics for decades, was killed when a small aircraft carrying him crashed near Pune. His death triggered a period of political uncertainty within the ruling coalition and set off administrative changes across departments overseen by him. It was during this transition that the 75 institutions were granted minority certification, according to government records.
Minority educational institution status in Maharashtra allows managements to claim certain protections under Article 30 of the Constitution, including autonomy in admissions and governance. While such status is routinely granted to institutions established and administered by recognised minority communities, the process requires scrutiny by the state minority commission and clearance from the education department.
Senior officials familiar with the file movement said the approvals were signed and notified in a narrow window after Pawar’s demise, raising concerns among some within the administration about whether the applications were vetted with adequate diligence. The chief minister’s office has indicated that the stay does not prejudge wrongdoing but is intended to ensure transparency and compliance with established norms.
Fadnavis, who has returned to the chief minister’s office following a reshuffle within the coalition, has publicly emphasised the need for probity in decision-making. In brief remarks to reporters, he said that “any decision taken during a sensitive period must withstand scrutiny” and added that no institution would suffer if its application was found to be in order after review.
Opposition leaders, while expressing condolences over Pawar’s death, have demanded clarity on the sequence of events that led to the approvals. Some have alleged that the timing suggests an attempt to fast-track pending applications. They have called for the state to place all related files in the public domain and to involve the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission in the re-examination.
Administrators within the education department have pointed out that several of the 75 institutions had been awaiting clearance for months and that documentation had been processed before January 28. They argue that the final notification coinciding with the aftermath of the crash does not necessarily imply irregularity. Nonetheless, the abrupt political vacuum following Pawar’s passing appears to have accelerated the chief minister’s decision to intervene.
Legal experts note that a stay on the grant of minority status is within the executive’s powers, provided that affected institutions are given an opportunity to be heard. Courts have consistently upheld the autonomy of genuine minority-run institutions, but have also underscored that states may verify claims to prevent misuse. Any prolonged suspension without reasoned orders could invite judicial challenge.
The episode unfolds against a broader national debate over minority education rights and the balance between institutional autonomy and regulatory oversight. Maharashtra, with its diverse religious and linguistic communities, has a significant number of minority-run schools and colleges, many of which serve underprivileged sections. Certification confers not only symbolic recognition but also practical benefits in recruitment and admissions.
Within the ruling alliance, Pawar’s death has prompted internal recalibration. As deputy chief minister, he handled key portfolios and maintained influence across administrative tiers. His absence has reshaped equations in Mumbai’s power corridors, with Fadnavis consolidating authority. Political analysts suggest that the chief minister’s swift move to review the 75 approvals signals an effort to assert control over decisions taken during the interregnum.
Education sector representatives have urged the government to complete the review swiftly to avoid disruption to students. Admission cycles for the upcoming academic year are under way, and uncertainty over institutional status can affect seat allocations, faculty appointments and funding streams. Several managements have indicated that they will cooperate fully with any inquiry and provide additional documentation if required.
State officials are expected to compile a timeline detailing when each application was received, examined and cleared, and which authorities signed off at each stage. The report will determine whether the notifications complied with procedural requirements laid down under state rules and constitutional provisions.