Indian court to hear school ‘harassment’ case

(July 08, 2011) The high court of central India’s Madhya Pradesh state has accepted a petition alleging the state government is misusing legislation to harass minority-run educational institutions. The court on Wednesday said it will hear the case in a month, according to advocate James Antony, who represents the Church. The petition, challenging the state government’s order seeking the implementation of the Right to Education Act in minority schools, was filed by Father Anand Muttungal, the Church’s spokesman in Madhya Pradesh. After the order was issued government officials began interfering with the running of minority-run schools thus undermining their rights, Father Muttungal said. They issued illegal orders regarding admissions and also interfered with day-to-day administration, he added. Father Muttungal said this not only violates constitutional safeguards that minority educational institutions are guaranteed, but is also affecting education standards. The Church was forced to go to court after appeals to government authorities failed.