The CPI(M) today termed as "improper and unwarranted" the view expressed by Supreme Court judge Justice A R Dave that Gita and Mahabaratha should be taught in schools.
"What Justice Dave has advocated is religious instruction in all schools from Class I. Compulsory religious instruction in government schools violates the basic secular principle enshrined in the Constitution," the party Polit Bureau said in a statement.
"It is unfortunate that a sitting judge of the Supreme Court propounds his personal views which go against the grain of the secular democratic constitutional principle, which he as a judge is expected to uphold," the party said.
"The views expressed by Justice Dave about the teaching of Gita and Mahabharata in schools is improrer and unwarranted," it said.
Speaking at a conference in Ahmedabad yesterday, Justice Dave had said, "Somebody who is very secular... So called secular will not agree... Had I been the dictator of India, I would have introduced Gita and Mahabharata in class one. That is the way you learn how to live life. I am sorry If somebody says I am secular or I am not secular. But if there is something good, we have to get it from anywhere.
