New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Telangana School Education Department, the Hyderabad District Magistrate, and the Commissioner of Police over allegations that a private junior college in Hyderabad made Islamic religious lessons and prayers compulsory for students through official school diaries.

A Bench presided over by NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo took cognisance of a complaint alleging that “Success the Junior College” in Hyderabad’s Saidabad had been assigning Islamic religious lessons and prayers as compulsory homework to students through official school diaries.

According to the complaint, when parents questioned the school authorities, the management allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation and described the entries as a mistake despite similar instructions appearing repeatedly.

The complainant contended that imposing religious instruction in a secular educational institution violates children’s rights as well as the secular character of education.

The complainant sought the NHRC’s intervention and requested an inquiry into the matter, appropriate action against the school management, and directions to prevent compulsory religious instruction in educational institutions.

Observing that the allegations, if true, prima facie indicate violations of the human rights of the victims, the apex rights body took cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

The NHRC directed its registry to issue notices to the Director of School Education, Government of Telangana, the District Magistrate, and the Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, directing them to inquire into the allegations and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks for its perusal.

The apex human rights body has also directed the authorities to forward a copy of the ATR to it through email.

–IANS

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