An alleged attempt by a missionary school to restrict a student’s freedom of worship and faith was thwarted in Karvi town, Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh. A Class 10 Hindu student at St Thomas Senior Secondary School, identified as Harsh Pandey, was reportedly barred from taking his exam for greeting someone with the chant “Jai Shri Ram” during a school break.
According to Harsh’s father, the incident occurred on 16 January 2025 when his son greeted someone with the holy Hindu chant. Angered by this, the school administration prevented Harsh from sitting for his exam. Distressed by the action, his father contacted the police, who promptly intervened, allowing the boy to write his papers.
In a video shared on social media, Harsh’s father expressed his outrage, saying, “What kind of rule is this? What kind of punishment is this – stopping a student from writing an exam for chanting Jai Shri Ram.”
#चित्रकूट के कर्वी क्षेत्र स्थित संत थॉमस सीनियर सेकेंडरी स्कूल में एक विवाद हुआ, जब बच्चों को "जय श्री राम" बोलने के कारण परीक्षा में प्रवेश से मना कर दिया गया। बच्चों ने गेट पर खड़े एक व्यक्ति को "जय श्री राम" कहा, जिसे सुनकर फादर ने उन्हें प्रवेश करने से रोक दिया। जब बच्चों के… pic.twitter.com/7qHxocaiZH
— UttarPradesh.ORG News (@WeUttarPradesh) January 16, 2025
The incident sparked protests by students affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), who staged a demonstration outside the school premises. The backlash prompted the school principal to issue a formal apology, which helped defuse tensions and restore calm.
This incident has drawn widespread attention and criticism, highlighting ongoing concerns about the treatment of cultural and religious expressions in educational institutions.
(With inputs from OpIndia)
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.