The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has called for a report from the district administration in response to allegations from a Hindu group claiming that a school in Bengaluru required parents to sign an undertaking during admission, stating that they would not object to their children carrying the Bible to school.
Members of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, accusing Clarence High School of promoting conversion, met with Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh on Tuesday, urging intervention. Minister Nagesh remarked that the school’s actions violated the Karnataka Education Act, emphasizing that institutions do not have the right to add religious books to the curriculum. The local Deputy Director of Public Instruction issued a notice, and appropriate action will be taken.
Coincidentally, the Karnataka government is considering introducing the Bhagavad Gita in schools, as proposed by the textbook committee.
The controversy emerges amid the recent dispute over denying entry to students wearing hijabs in colleges.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s state spokesperson, Mohan Gowda, accused Clarence High School management of making parents undertake not to object to students carrying the Bible. An admission application point affirms that students will attend various activities for their moral and spiritual welfare and will not object to carrying the Bible. The school principal, Jerry George Mathew, stated that they are law-abiding and consulting legal advice on the matter.
The Archdiocese of Bangalore, represented by Peter Machado, refuted the allegation, stating that the practice of children bringing the Bible to school existed in the past but has ceased since last year. He clarified that the school management conducts Bible or religion classes for Christians outside school hours. Machado questioned the government’s stance on introducing the Bhagavad Gita, asking whether requiring children to buy religious texts could be seen as forceful conversion. He argued that it cannot be interpreted as such.