Does mandatory recital of Hindu shlokas ‘asato ma sadgamaya’ (from falsehood lead me to truth) and ‘Om saha navavatu’ (may God protect and nourish us…) in Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country violate the fundamental right to religion of minorities? Terming this question raised by a PIL to be of “seminal importance”, the Supreme Court on Monday referred it to a five-judge constitution bench, setting the stage for a legal battle which would be an extension of the ‘culture war’ being waged in the public arena.
Does mandatory recital of Hindu shlokas ‘asato ma sadgamaya’ (from falsehood lead me to truth) and ‘Om saha navavatu’ (may God protect and nourish us…) in Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country violate the fundamental right to religion of minorities? Terming this question raised by a PIL to be of “seminal importance”, the Supreme Court on Monday referred it to a five-judge constitution bench, setting the stage for a legal battle which would be an extension of the ‘culture war’ being waged in the public arena.