SC to test if Kendriya Vidyalaya prayer promotes a religion

The Supreme Court will examine if the morning assembly Hindi prayer sung in about 1,100 Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country promotes a particular religion in violation of the Constitution.

"It is a very important constitutional issue," a bench said on Wednesday and issued notice to the government.

Advocate Veenayak Shah, whose children studied at a Kendriya Vidyalaya, has filed a petition. The Madhya Pradesh resident said the practice led to obstacles in developing scientific temperament among students.

"Students learn to develop an inclination towards seeking refuge from the almighty instead of developing a practical outcome towards obstacles and hurdles faced in daily life, and the spirit of enquiry and reform seems to be lost somewhere," the petition said.

Teachers share the collective responsibility of supervising the assembly and making sure that students folds their hands, closes their eyes and recite the prayer without fail; and any student failing to do so is punished and humiliated in front of the entire school, the petition said.