The SC-ST Teachers’ Association in Uttarakhand has strongly opposed the recent directive to recite verses from the Bhagavad Gita during school prayer assemblies. In a formal letter addressed to the Director of Secondary Education, the association has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the directive, calling it a violation of the Indian Constitution’s secular principles.
Association president Sanjay Kumar Tamta cited Article 28(1) of the Constitution, which explicitly prohibits imparting religious instruction in any educational institution wholly or partially funded by the government. The association argues that the instruction to teach Gita verses in government-run schools undermines the principle of secular education.
The letter notes that government schools host students from diverse religious and social backgrounds, and mandating verses from a particular religious text may lead to discomfort, discrimination, and social division. It stresses that such practices go against the goals of inclusive and value-based education.
The association emphasized that education should focus on scientific thinking and inclusivity, rather than promoting content from any one religion. While the government has directed that Gita verses be explained with a “scientific perspective,” teachers say that the act itself is inherently religious and could alienate non-Hindu students.
The SC-ST Teachers’ Association has urged the education department to withdraw the order immediately, warning that the move could spark wider resistance if not addressed promptly.
