The issue
In 2023, Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School in Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, came under scrutiny after evidence that non-Muslim students were being compelled to follow religious practices associated with Islam. The allegations included:
- Compulsory wearing of hijab/headscarves
- Recitation of Islamic prayers
- Restrictions on wearing tilak and kalawa
- Compulsory teaching/use of Urdu
- Other alleged religious practices
We filed a complaint with National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) that took cognisance and intervened. An FIR was filed against several staff members of the school for forced religious practices.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court's 2023 order records allegations that non-Muslim students were being compelled to wear headscarves and that Islamic prayers were being recited/taught.
What happened
The controversy triggered official scrutiny of the school. NCPCR recorded that it received a complaint from us in May 2023 concerning allegations of compulsory hijab, Islamic prayers and Urdu being imposed on students. On 2 June, NCPCR wrote to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police seeking action. The school subsequently faced suspension of recognition and other official proceedings.
The encroachment angle
At the same time, the municipal authorities investigated the school's construction. On 11 June 2023, the Damoh municipal authorities issued a notice stating that construction at the school premises had been carried out without municipal approval and directing the school to produce the required documents. The notice warned that unauthorised construction could be removed/demolished under the MP Municipal Act.
On 13 June, the municipal administration arrived at the school with a demolition team. The administration subsequently demolished a portion/floor of the school that it said had been constructed illegally. Contemporary reporting confirmed that the fourth floor had been constructed without permission.
Where the case stands
The matter remains legally active. In September 2026, the Madhya Pradesh High Court refused to quash the FIR against four accused connected with the school, holding that the allegations of coercion could not simply be treated as baseless and would have to be tested through evidence.
Impact
The case demonstrates how a complaint concerning alleged coercive religious practices at an educational institution expanded into official scrutiny of the institution's regulatory compliance and construction. The school faced:
- Criminal proceedings
- Government scrutiny
- Suspension/derecognition proceedings
- Municipal action over unauthorised construction
The criminal proceedings concerning the alleged religious practices remain before the courts; the High Court's September 2026 order means the allegations will proceed to be tested rather than being quashed at this stage.
SUCCESS: A controversial school was subjected to sustained governmental, regulatory and judicial scrutiny, while unauthorised construction identified by the municipal authorities was demolished.
