Schools say it should not be made compulsory as some minority schools may object
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to take a decision within three months on pleas seeking framing of a national yoga policy and making yoga compulsory for students of Class I-VIII across the country. A bench headed by Justice MB Lokur asked the Centre to treat the petitions filed on the issue as a representation and take a decision.
The court was hearing the pleas filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and Delhi BJP spokesperson and J C Seth on the issue.
"It is good if the Centre comes up with a policy on yoga. There will be a clarity on how to implement the subject in schools," said Ashok Pandey, Principal Ahlchon International School, Delhi.
Dr Sangeeta Srivastava, principal of KES' SVPV Vidyalaya, Kandivali, Mumbai said, "Outside India, people have realised the benefits of yoga, which is why yoga is being adopted everywhere. Even in India, in some schools, yoga is taught during the physical training period. Yoga is not about any religion but it is beneficial for physical, mental and spiritual health. It helps develop the brain."
Highlighting the other aspect of the issue, a Delhi-based school official said, "There is a problem if you make yoga compulsory. This might have conflict of interest among minority schools. As long as the subject is being taught on own will it is a good thing."
Upadhyay has sought a direction to the Ministry of Human Resources Development, NCERT, NCTE and CBSE to "provide standard textbooks of 'yoga and health education' for students of Class I-VIII keeping in spirit various fundamental rights such as right to life, education and equality." 'Right to health' is an integral part of right to life under the Article 21, it said, noting that it includes protection of health and is a minimum requirement to enable a person to live with human dignity.
"State has an obligation to provide health facilities to all the citizens, especially to children and adolescents. In a welfare state, it is obligation of the State to ensure the creation and sustenance of conditions congenial to good health," the plea has said.
Theresa Faria, Headmistress of St. Xavier's High School, Mira Road, Mumbai said, "Yoga should be the discretion of schools like how and when they want it to be implemented in their schools. We do conduct yoga sessions, but since we have students from different communities, we tell them to practice meditation and do deep breathing exercise."
According to Naeem Shaikh, teacher of Anjuman Khairul Islam Urdu High School (Boys), Madanpura, Mumbai, "Yoga is related to religious mythology. This order is under influence of current government. Some community schools may not follow it. Some asanas like Surya Namaskar or chanting Om are against some faiths. The government shouldn't impose this on schools."
Dr Francesca Aranha, HOD, Gerenal Education Academy, Chembur, said, "Yoga is adopted by many schools and they do conduct sessions with children. It is stress free exercise and should be practiced by students. But some students hesitate while chanting Om during meditation practice because they feel it is related to Hinduism. Once one parent had approached me requesting not to force her child to chant Om as it is against their religion.
But I explained her it is nothing to do with any religion."
—With inputs from agency
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