Court gives church's counsel two months to read Gita

The counsel representing the Catholic Church in a petition against introduction of Bhagvad Gita in school curriculum has been given two months time to study the Hindu scripture entirely.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court in an interim order passed last week said it wanted the Church's counsel to ascertain whether Gita was a philosophy of life or is associated with any religion.

The court has given two months time so the counsel could read the whole Gita before arguing the public interest litigation.

Catholic Bishop's Council through its spokesperson Fr Anand Muttungal had moved the High Court last month seeking a direction to introduce summary of all major religions as a subject in the educational curriculum.

Petitioner's counsel Rajesh Chand said the petition did not restrict itself only to the epic but has argued that one religion was being given primacy over other religions in violation of the Constitution.

The petitioner, according to the Indian Express, has listed among other government schemes, Ladli Lakshmi Yojana, Balram Tal Yojana and Kapildhara Yojana, to argue that the nomenclature is inspired only by Hindu mythology.

The Church has stressed that it was not against making Gita part of school curriculum, but wants all religion in the country to get equal representation.

It expressed that plans to introduce only a Hindu religious book was an attempt to incite communal feelings.

"We would say the government must introduce all religious scriptures into the educational system in the larger interest of society," Fr Muttungal earlier said.