JOIN USHearing a petition filed by Karnataka State Minorities Educational Institutions Managements Federation challenging the circular dated June 9, 2011, Justice Abdul Nazeer ordered the issue of notices to the State and the union governments.
Submitting that the circular was "contrary to the right guaranteed to the petitioner's members institutions as per the provisions of the Constitution of India,” the petitioner said neither the Union of India nor the State government had a right to "deviate from the constitutional rights of the minority institutions".
The campaign should not be forced to be implemented on minority institutions, said G R Mohan, counsel for the petitioner. The petitioner submitted that in the absence of specific provision or section in Karnataka Education Act, the respondent cannot force the educational institutions to teach Bhagvad Gita.
The petitioners also submitted that if the same is allowed in various schools of the State, then other religious institutions may also teach Quran/Bible in the schools where Hindus are also admitted as students.
"It will go against the Constitution of India and also affect the religous sentiments of the minorities and may create communal tension in schools", the petitioner stated.