Gujarat High Court rejects petition against teaching Bhagwadgeeta in schools as it is just like teaching Value Education

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) – Gujarat High Court stated that Bhagwadgeeta does not put forth any religious teaching. Bhagwadgeeta’s teaching of focusing on the action without bothering about the result is a basic moral principle. Teaching Bhagwadgeeta in schools is just like teaching value education. The Gujarat High Court made the above statements in response to a petition filed by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against the State Government’s decision to teach Bhagwadgeeta in schools. A Gujarat High Court bench comprising Chief Justices Sunita Agarwal and Pranav Trivedi criticised the petitioners by stating that a Public Interest Litigation against teaching Bhagwadgeeta is nothing but a stunt to gain publicity.

Gujarat Legislative Assembly passed a resolution in February 2024 to teach students of Class 6 to 12 shlokas from Bhagwadgeeta, its principles and prayers. After this the State Government took the decision to teach Bhagwadgeeta in schools. A petition against this was filed in the Court.

The advocate for the petitioners put forth the argument that as per the New Education Policy and the principle of Secularism, tenets of all religions should be taught in school. They should not be based on any one religion alone. The court disagreed with the petitioner’s view that the Government’s decision was communal in nature. Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal said that the New Education Policy does not deny teaching a doctrine from a single source at a time.