India, Sept. 11 -- Maharashtra's school education department has stepped up action against hundreds of schools operating illegally without government recognition in Mumbai and nearby districts, including Thane, Palghar, and Raigad.

At least 452 schools have been issued closure notices, police complaints have been filed against 190, the UDISE numbers of 43 schools have been deactivated, and penalties have been imposed on 296 schools, according to information submitted by the Mumbai division of the school education department.

Closure notices were issued to 164 schools within the jurisdiction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after they were found operating without the required permission. FIRs have been filed against 77 sch...