Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner to probe charges against school for mandatory Bible

Bengaluru: J. Manjunath, the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban, will begin a probe on the charges of mandatory Bible study in a city school.

The investigation is being initiated on Tuesday following the directions by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Hindu organisations have raised complaints on the Clarence High School for the imposition and the NCPCR has asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit the report within seven days.

The Commission stated that it has been brought to notice that the school has been imposing Christian religious views on children by making them study the Bible.

The school is also making it mandatory for them to attend Christian religious prayers daily in the morning, it added.

The Commission further stated that the students are involved in other Christian religious activities and the same has also been mentioned on the school’s website.

As per the complaint there is prima facie contravention of the Article 25 and Article 28 (3) of the Indian constitution, provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, statement by NCPCR said.

The Hindu Jana Jagruthi Samithi had earlier alleged that the students are made to read the Bible everyday compulsorily.

All students are given a Bible which is the form of a booklet, they are told to carry it every day. If anyone objects, they will be threatened with cancellation of admissions, they alleged.

Pramod Muthalik, Founder of Sri Ram Sena reacting to the incident, had asked the school management to keep the Bible at their homes and churches.

State Education Minister B.C. Nagesh clarified that there is no provision for making the Bible reading compulsory in schools, if it is found to be true, action will be initiated against the school.