Gita teachings in schools challenged in HC

The Gujarat High Court, while hearing a petition challenging the state government's decision to introduce teachings from the Bhagavad Gita in schools, observed orally that the teachings are rooted in morality and culture, rather than religion.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Pranav Trivedi, was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) against a 2022 resolution issued by the state education department. The resolution required the incorporation of values and tenets from the Bhagavad Gita for students in grades 6 through 12, starting in the 2022-23 academic year. It cited the "inspiration and guidance" of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The petition was filed by organizations such as Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind Gujarat and the Jamiat Ulama Welfare Trust, which sought a stay on the resolution. The petitioners' senior counsel argued that the resolution mandated the incorporation of principles, tenets, and prayers from the Bhagavad Gita, contradicting the NEP's guidelines for teaching values that reflect a secular and ethical ethos across religions.