The latest development came on Monday when a group led by G.N. War announced that elections for the district body of the Private Schools Association would be held on July 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Town Hall, Bandipora. The organisers stated that the election aims to strengthen the association and ensure broader representation of private schools across the district.

 

Nomination forms have been issued for the posts of President, General Secretary and Treasurer, with school heads, proprietors and other stakeholders invited to contest. According to the organisers, the nomination process has been kept open to all eligible schools through both physical and online forms to encourage wider participation.

 

However, the announcement has been strongly contested by Fayaz Ahmad, Chairman of IDPS, who was elected as President of the Private Schools Association on April 9, 2026.

 

Speaking to the media, Fayaz Ahmad claimed that after the retirement of G.N. War, the parent Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir split into two factions—one led by G.N. War and the other by Baba Nasrul Islam. He asserted that the Bandipora unit affiliated with the Baba Nasrul Islam faction already represents nearly 70 private schools in the district.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

 

Responding to allegations made during Monday's press conference that the April 9 election was conducted on a selective basis, Fayaz Ahmad said that all private schools had been invited to participate in the meeting, where members democratically elected the office bearers. He maintained that the election was conducted transparently and enjoys the support of a majority of private institutions in the district.

 

On the other hand, the newly announced election committee alleged that the previous election lacked inclusiveness and wider participation. They maintained that their initiative seeks to provide every eligible school with an equal opportunity to contest and vote by keeping the nomination process open for all.

 

The parallel claims have effectively resulted in two rival private school associations in Bandipora, each asserting legitimacy and claiming the support of a majority of schools. The development has created confusion among private educational institutions regarding representation and leadership.

 

The situation also reflects a broader trend in Bandipora, where several organisations have witnessed the emergence of parallel associations and rival leadership groups, leading to questions over unity and collective representation. Stakeholders believe that unless the differences are resolved through dialogue or a consensus-based electoral process, the existence of multiple bodies may weaken the collective voice of private schools before the administration and the public.(KNS)