The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has alleged that the school is imposing religious dietary beliefs on students through the instructions.
According to reports, Seven Square School, Mira Road East, issued a circular on its portal after the Jain community’s eight-day Paryushan festival began. The circular asked students not to bring non-vegetarian food, onion, garlic, potatoes, beetroot and other tuber and root vegetables in their lunch boxes during the eight-day period.
The school is operated by Seven Eleven Education Society. The family of BJP MLA Narendra Mehta is associated with the society, and his wife is its chairperson. The school is affiliated with CBSE.
Senior Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has strongly condemned the matter. In a post on X on Thursday, he wrote that the school belongs to BJP MLA Narendra Mehta and questioned whether those in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet who consider themselves protectors of Hinduism accept such an attack in Maharashtra in the name of religion. Raut described the incident as more frightening than “love jihad” and questioned whether such people would decide whether Marathi people could continue to live in Mumbai, what people should or should not eat, and whether they would also take over Ganpati celebrations in Mumbai. He further questioned whether the Maharashtra achieved through the sacrifice of 106 Marathi people was going to be auctioned.
Following the school’s instructions, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena opposed the move. MNS leader Sachin Pokale alleged that dietary restrictions based on Jain religious beliefs were being imposed on students because Narendra Mehta belongs to the Jain community. He has complained to the civic education officer and sought action against the school. A complaint to the Human Rights Commission has also reportedly been made.
The MNS has questioned why dietary beliefs associated with one religion should be applied to all students when children from different communities and religious backgrounds study at the school.
BJP MLA Narendra Mehta has defended the school’s decision. He said the objective was not to impose the beliefs of any religion on children but to encourage them to eat nutritious food. Mehta said that certain foods are avoided in Jainism during Paryushan and that the school had advised students to avoid those items during the period. He also questioned what was wrong with not bringing such food to school during Paryushan, pointing out that just as some families voluntarily stop eating non-vegetarian food during religious occasions such as Ganeshotsav or Navratri, similar dietary choices could be followed during Paryushan.
A key aspect of the controversy is that the school and the MLA have described the move as a request or appeal rather than a religious restriction. Those opposing it, however, argue that the official school circular creates practical pressure on students and parents.
According to local reports, messages were also sent in parents’ WhatsApp groups appealing to them not to send onion, garlic, potatoes and beetroot, among other root and tuber vegetables, in lunch boxes. The school canteen also reportedly decided not to use these items during the period.
In Jainism, Paryushan Mahaparva is regarded as an important festival centred on self-restraint, fasting, introspection and forgiveness. This year, the Jain community in Mumbai began Paryushan on September 8. During the festival, a large number of devotees observe fasts and follow specific dietary practices.
Jain traditions include avoiding root and tuber vegetables and several other food items during Paryushan. The dispute, however, centres on whether dietary rules followed by individuals during a religious festival can be applied to all children in a school.
Seven Square School has also faced controversy in the past. According to the Times of India, questions have been raised about the land on which the school operates. It has been alleged that Seven Square Academy was started on land reserved for a technical school under the development plan of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation. Activists have alleged the use of political influence in the matter. The case involving the alleged transfer of the property and loss of government revenue is reportedly pending in court.
The controversy has raised a broader question about how schools in a multi-religious society such as India should balance religious traditions with individual freedom in matters concerning students’ food choices. Students and families observing Paryushan may have complete freedom to choose food according to their religious beliefs, but applying the same dietary rules to children from other religions or with different eating habits has become the central point of the dispute.
The education department’s inspection will now be important in determining whether the school’s circular was a voluntary appeal or effectively functioned as a mandatory instruction for students.
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