The Gujarat High Court addressed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the inclusion of the Bhagwad Gita in school curriculums. The petitioner argued that the National Education Policy mandates teaching the principles of all religions to uphold secularism, rather than focusing on a single faith. The court dismissed the plea, terming it “propaganda.”
The Gujarat High Court recently expressed scepticism regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Jamiat Ulama-E-Hind against the state government’s decision to incorporate principles from the Bhagavad Gita in schools.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Pranav Trivedi stated that the Bhagavad Gita does not convey any religious teachings, characterizing the PIL as mere propaganda.
The court noted,
“Bhagavad Gita has no religious teaching. Karma Kar Phal Ki Iksha Mat Kar (One should believe in doing good deeds without hoping for fruits or rewards) is a fundamental moral principle. This PIL is nothing but a propaganda or stunt and nothing else.”
This decision by the state follows a unanimous resolution passed by the State Assembly in February 2024, which mandates the teaching of the Gita’s principles, shlokas, and prayers to students from classes 6 to 12
The petitioner’s counsel argued that, in accordance with the national education policy, educational content should reflect principles from all religions in a spirit of secularism, rather than focusing on just one.
The counsel emphasized,
“It has to be based on ethics and morality which is taught by all religions,”
And also referenced the Supreme Court’s stance that all religions are vital to India’s culture and ethos.
According to the Supreme Court, what can be taught are principles aimed at cultivating good human beings, which are shared across all religions, the counsel stated during the proceedings.
However, the Court rejected the idea that the resolution carries any religious bias. Instead, it characterized the initiative as similar to the teachings found in subjects like Moral Science.
Chief Justice Agarwal remarked,
“This is a kind of moral science. Moral Science lessons were nothing but the teaching of the preachers.”
In response, the counsel argued that Moral Science lessons are inherently “neutral.”
He also pointed out that the resolution is already being implemented and that the State has yet to respond to the petition.
The Court clarified that the resolution simply aims to introduce teachings from a specific text, namely the Bhagavad Gita.
The counsel contested this by stating,
“But it can’t be; the National Policy doesn’t say this.”
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Nevertheless, the Court maintained that the policy does not prohibit the introduction of teachings from one source at a time.
Chief Justice Agarwal explained,
“It will be one by one (other such texts/teachings will be implemented one by one). The National Policy doesn’t say that you cannot introduce one (teaching) at a time. This policy cannot be said to be bad.”
The Court subsequently scheduled the matter for a merits hearing in one month. Advocate Isa Hakim represented Jamiat Ulama-E-Hind Gujarat, while Government Harsheel D. Shukla represented the Union of India.
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