The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought to know from the Centre why there should be a morning prayer based on Hinduism in Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country.
A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha admitted a PIL filed by Madhya Pradesh-resident Vinayak Shah that questioned the practice of forcing all students, irrespective of their faith and belief, to recite a prayer in schools funded by the Central government.
The petition argued by advocate Pallavi Sharma contended that the practice of prayer created obstacles in developing scientific temperament among students as the whole idea of God and religious faith is given immense priority and instilled as a thought-process among the students.
This affected the spirit of enquiry and reform. Besides, it was constitutionally impermissible as it was being enforced on children of the minority communities as well as atheists and others, the petitioner stated.
Shah relied upon Article 28(1) of the Constitution that said no religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of state funds.
He said the common prayer is a "religious instruction" within the meaning of Article 28 of the Constitution and should, therefore, be prohibited.
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