16 hrs ago
BJP MLA’s School Withdraws Paryushan Food Circular After Backlash
Seven Square Academy sent students a notice about avoiding some foods during the Jain Paryushan festival.
The foods included onion, garlic, potato, beetroot and other root vegetables.
The school also said these foods would not be sold in its canteen.
Many parents and groups disagreed with the notice.
They said a school should not control what students eat because of a religious festival.
Some political groups threatened protests or legal action.
The school then removed the notice from its online portal.
Narendra Mehta said the notice was only a request and was not compulsory, while the education department issued the school a show-cause notice.
Seven Square Academy withdrew a circular advising students not to bring onion, garlic, potato, beetroot and other root vegetables during Jain Paryushan.
The school also said those foods would not be available in its canteen during the festival.
Parents, political parties and social organisations opposed the advisory, saying it interfered with students’ eating habits.
The MNS and Marathi Ekikaran Samiti threatened action, including agitation and legal proceedings over the school’s recognition.
The Thane Zilla Parishad education department later issued the school a show-cause notice; Narendra Mehta said the circular was only an appeal, not a mandate.
- Who
- Seven Square Academy, owned by a trust belonging to BJP MLA Narendra Mehta’s family, along with parents, political organisations, social groups and the Thane Zilla Parishad education department.
- What
- The school withdrew a Paryushan-related food circular and subsequently received a show-cause notice for advising students not to bring certain foods.
- Where
- The reports refer to the school as being in Bhayandar and Mira Road, in Thane district, Maharashtra.
- When
- The circular was withdrawn on September 10, 2026; the show-cause notice was reported on September 11, 2026.
- Why
- The circular was withdrawn after protests and criticism that it imposed or interfered with religiously based food restrictions on students.
Critics of the Circular
School and Mehta’s Position
Food restrictions at school
Critics of the Circular
Parents, political parties and social organisations opposed asking students to avoid particular foods during a religious festival, arguing that the advisory interfered with students’ eating habits.
School and Mehta’s Position
The school said the notice was only an appeal, and Narendra Mehta clarified that it was not intended to be mandatory.
Religious observance and school policy
Critics of the Circular
Critics questioned whether food restrictions linked to Jain Paryushan should apply to students generally, and Pratap Sarnaik criticised the move as hypocrisy.
School and Mehta’s Position
The school issued the advisory during Paryushan and also planned not to offer the mentioned foods in its canteen, while maintaining that the request was non-compulsory.
Response to the controversy
Critics of the Circular
Avinash Jadhav warned of agitation, and the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti said it would pursue legal action seeking cancellation of the school’s recognition.
School and Mehta’s Position
The school withdrew the circular after the backlash; the MNS and Marathi Ekikaran Samiti welcomed that decision, while the education department separately sought an explanation through a show-cause notice.
Key facts
- School
- Seven Square Academy
- Festival
- Jain Paryushan
- Foods mentioned
- Onion, garlic, potato, beetroot and other root vegetables
- Circular status
- Removed from the school’s online portal after backlash
- Administrative action
- Thane Zilla Parishad’s education department issued a show-cause notice
- Political response
- MNS leader Avinash Jadhav warned of agitation, while the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti threatened legal proceedings
- School clarification
- Narendra Mehta said the circular was an appeal and was not mandatory
Sources
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