After Hijab, New Row in Karnataka Over School’s Mandatory Bible Policy 

 Mandatory Bible Policy, Following the Hijab prohibition in colleges and schools, a controversy has erupted in Karnataka about using the Bible in schools.

Bengaluru school has made it mandatory for students to bring their Bibles to class. The Bible is a collection of sacred Christian scriptures.

According to reports in the media, the school has accepted a pledge from the parents that the pupils would not object to getting a Bible or hymn eBook to school. 

The school’s instruction has sparked a controversy in Karnataka over Muslim females wearing hijab in schools and colleges, which made headlines recently.

The Karnataka High Court ruled that wearing the hijab is not an “essential religious practice” in Islam and that it cannot be worn at educational institutions. 

On Monday, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti accused the management of Clarence High School in Bengaluru of making it compulsory for college students to carry a Bible.

Gowda, the group’s state spokeswoman, said that the institution had made it mandatory for non-Christian college students to carry and read the Bible, claiming that this violated Articles 25 and 30 of the Constitution. 

“We are aware that some individuals are concerned with one of our school’s regulations,” Jerry George Mathew, the principal of Clarence High School, told ANI.

We are a school that values peace and upholds the rule of law. We’ve talked to our lawyers about it, and we’ll take their advice. We will not defy the direction of the nation regarding Mandatory Bible Policy.

Forcing non-Christians to read Bible: Right-wing group

-Mandatory Bible Policy

Meanwhile, some right-wing organisations have condemned the school’s mandate, claiming it violates the Karnataka Education Act. They have requested assistance from the state government. 

BC Nagesh, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education in Karnataka, stated that no educational institution might force people to follow a particular spiritual path. If institutions are found doing so, drastic action will be taken against them. 

“Religious texts cannot be taught at any institution.” The Bible, as you may know, is a Christian holy text. Our educational institutions cannot teach such topics, whether it’s a minority or non-minority institutions.

“There will be no religious rituals allowed,” the minister told ANI. 

“I haven’t seen what it is exactly.” I’ll inquire with my superiors about it and chat with management. According to what I’ve heard, they’re a law-abiding school.

They’ve talked to their lawyers about it, and they’ll take their advice. No institution can force anybody to do something contrary to their religious beliefs. “If they have done so, the Department will take action,” the Karnataka minister stated.  

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti stated that they would meet with the Karnataka Education Minister as soon as possible to raise the matter, according to Ramesh Shinde, the group’s national spokesperson.  

After Gujarat, Karnataka to include Bhagavad Gita in schools 

To “cultivate a sense of pride and connection to traditions,” the Gujarat government recently decided to add the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita to the school curriculum for Classes 6-12. 

Following this, the Karnataka state government has announced intentions to incorporate the Bhagavad Gita into schools, with Education Minister BC Nagesh claiming that if approved by consultants, the Karnataka government will include epics such as the Bhagavad Gita in the curriculum for students. 

The Education Minister of Karnataka, BC Nagesh, has stated that he supports the inclusion of moral science in the state curriculum. 

Edited by – Vanshika Sahu

Published by – Mohd Faizan