Gujarat HC points discover to state authorities on introducing Bhagavad Gita in colleges

By PTI

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Monday issued a discover to the state authorities on a petition difficult a decision introducing the Bhagavad Gita in colleges as a prayer program and verse recitation amongst different actions.

The excessive court docket, nonetheless, declined to remain the decision and sought the state authorities’s reply by August 18.

A division bench of Chief Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Ashutosh Shastri issued the discover on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Jamiat Ulama-E-Hind (JUEH) difficult the training division’s decision on introducing the Bhagavad Gita in colleges as prayers and thru actions like recitation of shlokas and many others from this instructional yr.

The JUEH challenged the decision on the grounds of Constitutional validity and claimed it was in contravention of the National Education Policy (NEP).

The bench additionally directed the petitioner’s counsel to serve a replica of the PIL on the Assistant Solicitor General because the Central authorities has additionally been made a respondent.

The Gujarat training minister introduced the transfer to introduce the Gita in colleges in Gujarat in March this yr.

Appearing for JUEH, lawyer Mihir Joshi mentioned values and ideas of Indian tradition and the system of information can definitely be prescribed within the college curriculum, however “the question is whether it should be done by giving primacy to the values and principles of the holy book of only one religion.”

The situation is whether or not one holy e book could be prescribed on this method, he argued.

“Indian culture comprises a vast array of what it comprises. The submission before the court is that there is no question of giving primacy to the religious book of one religion for stating that the values and principles as prescribed in that book alone shall be taught,” Joshi mentioned.

He argued that the ideas underlying the NEP to information each the tutorial system at massive and particular person establishments are “ethics, human and constitutional values and pluralism, respect for diversity, pride in India’s rich and diverse ancient and modern culture and knowledge systems and traditions”.

Joshi additional mentioned that Articles 25 and 28 of the Constitution present for the liberty of conscience and free occupation, follow and propagation of faith, and directives that no non secular directions shall be offered in a state-run instructional establishment.

“The state education department’s resolution issued a directive to include Indian culture and Indian knowledge system from 2022-23 by including the value and principles of Srimad Bhagavad Gita in class 6-12 in such a matter that the children understand and take an interest,” Joshi mentioned.

For lessons 6-8, the Gita shall be launched in instructional topic textbooks within the type of tales, studying supplies, and many others.

In lessons 9-12, the Gita shall be launched within the first language textbooks within the type of tales, studying materials and many others.

It shall should be launched in prayers.

Various actions resembling Gita-based shlok recitation, debates, elocution, dramas, drawings, and many others. shall be organised, he mentioned quoting the decision.

“As far as the curriculum is concerned, the Right to Education (RTE) says that there is a statutory organisation which will frame it and recommend it to the state government,” he mentioned.

Joshi sought a keep on the implementation of the decision, arguing that the path given to the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) to organize a curriculum for the aim is with out jurisdiction and opposite to statutory provisions.

The HC, nonetheless, declined to grant the keep, saying it is not going to think about the prayer with out an affidavit.