The Chhattisgarh High Court on Thursday said that no child can be forced to recite Hindu prayers in government schools while hearing a petition against the government circular issued on June 12.Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad was hearing a petition challenging the circular, which ordered government schools to perform Saraswati Vandana, Gayatri Mantra, Guru Mantra and other Hindu prayers as part of school curriculum.At the meeting, the State Government told the Court that although the letter was issued at the beginning of June, it still exists. Considering what he said, the Court dismissed the petition.However, the Court granted the petitioners the right to appeal if any child was found to have been forced to participate in the prayers. It also observed that appropriate action can be taken if such complaints are filed in court. A detailed plan is awaited.The request was submitted by the former chairman of Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Abdul Salam Rizvi, former chairman of the Department of Minorities Mahendra Chhabda and Shafique Ahmed who belongs to Bilaspur group. They challenged the legitimacy of the Department of School Education.According to the circular, government schools across the state have been asked to sing National Anthem, National Anthem, Deep Mantra, Saraswati Vandana and Guru Mantra. It also advised schools to read biographies of famous people, recite Bhojan Mantra during mid-day meal, and Gayatri Mantra and Shanti Mantra before dispersal.The petitioners said that the circular violates the principles of the country’s constitution and human rights.“The legal inclusion of Saraswati Vandana, Gayatri Mantra, Guru Mantra and Shanti Mantra amounts to religious instruction and promotion of a particular religion in government schools. Therefore the impugned order is unconstitutional,” the petition said, as per the Bar and Bench.The petition also stated that the pamphlet does not protect students who do not want to participate in religious activities Denial does not provide a means of admission to the school or protect the conscience rights of students who may not want to participate in such religious activities,” it said.The petition also said that the letter failed to maintain the government’s silence on religious matters. “By offering prayers and expressions related to one religion but excluding others, the Government is creating illegal preferences among religious groups,” the petition said.It also said that the circular was against secular education. “The actions of the Government effectively promote and enforce the religious practices of one faith in schools taught by the Government, thereby violating the constitutional guarantees,” the petition said.