Mira Road school asked to explain Paryushan tiffin restrictions

Students at Seven Square Academy in Mira Road were told not to consume or bring certain food items in their tiffin boxes during Paryushan, the Jain festival. Thane district education authorities have now issued the school management a show-cause notice over the instruction.

The management withdrew the circular after protests by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT). District education officer Devidas Mahajan said the school has students from different religions and communities, and that imposing the practices of a particular religion on them violates their rights.

The notice cites the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, as well as the School Code. It says schools are public, secular institutions and that students cannot be pressured or restricted over food habits for religious reasons. It also refers to constitutional protections under Articles 14, 19 and 21 against discrimination on religious or cultural grounds.

The school management has been asked to submit a written explanation within two days. Seven Square Academy is run by the Seven Eleven Education Society, chaired by Suman Mehta; the school was founded by BJP MLA Narendra Mehta.