by Maktoob
The Association for the Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) on Sunday called on the Chhattisgarh School Education Department to withdraw its circular directing religious activities to be carried out in government schools.
The order directs government schools across the state to include religious activities, including Saraswati Vandana, Gayatri Mantra, Guru Mantra, Shanti Mantra, and Deep Prajwalan (lamp lighting) as part of the daily routine.
The circular published on 12 June, instructs students to recite a Bhojan Mantra before the mid-day meal. Government claims the objective is to promote “students’ intellectual development” and connect them with “Indian cultural traditions and values”.
“This directive is patently unconstitutional and blurs the important line between cultural activities and religious observance in state-run schools,” the rights group said in a statement.
“Making prayers and rituals from any religion mandatory for all students in the name of cultural education means the state is endorsing and promoting that faith to the exclusion of others. It also violates the freedom of individual students and teachers to practice the religion of their choice.”
APCR said Government schools are meant for children of every community, including those who follow no religion. No child can be forced to participate in the observance of rituals and practices of any one religion at school that is different from their faith.
They also pointed out that State cannot place an obligation on District Education Officers to enforce religious practice.
“The job of these Education Officers is to supervise the functioning of schools in their area and ensure the proper utilisation of resources to provide high-quality education consistent with the Constitution,” the statement reads.
APCR urged Chhattisgarh Government to withdraw or revise the circular so that religious practices are removed from the list of activities.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com.
