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Gujarat HC rejects over 150 petitions by Waqf Boards seeking exemption from court fee, clarifies no petition will be heard if fee not paid

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Gujarat HC rejects over 150 petitions by Waqf Boards seeking exemption from court fee, clarifies no petition will be heard if fee not paid

In a big decision, the Gujarat High Court has ruled that Waqf boards must pay court fees just like other religious institutions when filing cases. The court dismissed around 150 petitions filed by Waqf groups seeking exemption from paying court fees after a week of hearings. This is one of the largest mass rejections of Waqf cases.

It puts a stop to the old idea that Waqfs get special treatment in courts and tribunals, while temples and other religious places always had to pay fees.

150 Waqf petitions get dismissed

Justice JC Doshi of the Gujarat High Court gave the order rejecting the pleas. The petitions came from Waqf boards wanting back their properties from encroachers, plus other benefits like profits from them. However, their petitions were not listed as they didn’t pay the required court fee.

Groups like the Sunni Muslim Idgah Mosque Trust, Vadodara Saher Masjid Sabha Trust, and Sarkhej Roza Committee of Ahmedabad filed the pleas. They were challenging orders from the Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal saying that the court fees must be paid before any hearing on disputes.

The High Court said these were real disputes between parties, needing a decision on rights and duties. So they counted as full-court fights, not just simple applications.

The court clearly stated that applications under Section 83 of the Waqf Act are judicial proceedings. They are litigation, so the Gujarat Court Fees Act, 2004, applies to them. Therefore, it is mandatory to pay the court fees.

High Court refuses to interfere with Waqf Tribunal orders

The Gujarat High Court pointed out the Waqf Tribunal’s first order. It told them to set the right value for the case based on court fees and jurisdiction. Waqf groups didn’t challenge that order on time in a higher court.

They only complained later, when the tribunal dismissed their cases for skipping fees. The High Court said you can’t throw out the second order just because fees weren’t paid on the first one. There was no big legal mistake, no lack of power, or error in law from the lower court. So all the petitions got dismissed.

Court: Fees required, no escape just by calling it an ‘Application’

Waqf lawyers argued the Waqf Act doesn’t mention court fees, so applications under it don’t need them. The High Court did not accept this argument. The court said, Section 1(5) of the Gujarat Court Fees Act, 2004 states that fees apply in all courts and public offices unless another law specifically provides for court fees.

The court also said that, as per Section 4 of the Gujarat Court Fees Act, no document can be filed, shown, or recorded in court without the right fees. Even the Public offices can’t take them. The Waqf Tribunal acts like a civil court with full powers to hear cases and enforce decisions. Calling something an “application” doesn’t make it different from a lawsuit if it decides rights and duties between parties, the court stated. That’s why court fees apply to Section 83 proceedings under the Waqf Act

Years of Confusion on Waqf Fees ended

For years, Waqf groups from small dargahs to big mosque boards thought they didn’t need to pay court fees in disputes. The old Waqf Act didn’t mention fees, so they skipped them. But now that’s over.

The court has clarified that Muslim Waqf trusts must pay fees like other religious trusts and charities when they go to court for litigating cases.

Ruling comes during National Waqf debate

This decision comes at a time when the country is talking about Waqf administration. Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, earlier this year to make Waqf land and property management better and more modern. Some praise it for transparency and strength, while others criticise it.

Supporters say it brings fairness. Government sources believe the High Courts’ order is a step to equality under law and fixes old unfairness in courts.

Deputy CM calls it historic

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Ramesh Sanghvi called the decision historic. He said all religions are equal in India, and the court made sure everyone has equal rights.

He added, “The Waqf Act, which was introduced by Congress for vote bank politics. It lets Waqf properties and tribunal cases skip court fees. But temples, gurdwaras, and other religious places had to pay.”

Thiruparankundram Deepam row: Hindu devotees slam Tamil Nadu govt for ‘undisguised scorn and contempt’ for Hindu faith, forcing surrender of religious rights

Aditi
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Thiruparankundram Deepam row: Hindu devotees slam Tamil Nadu govt for ‘undisguised scorn and contempt’ for Hindu faith, forcing surrender of religious rights

A group of Hindu devotees on Wednesday (17th December) told the Madras High Court that the Commissioner of Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department (HR&CE Department) has “undisguised scorn and contempt” towards the Hindu faith.

The remarks were made by the devotees during the hearing of an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government and the Madurai authorities against a single judge’s order directing the lighting of the Karthigai lamp atop the Thiruparakundram Hill, which houses both the Arulmigu Subramania Swamy temple and the Sikkandar Badhusha Dargah.

The appeal challenged an order passed by Justice GR Swaminathan in a contempt plea on 4th December, wherein he quashed the prohibitory orders issued by the Madurai district administration to prevent Hindu devotees from lighting the Karthigai lamp atop the Thiruparakundram Hill.

The appeal came up before a Division Bench of Justices G Jayachandran and KK Ramakrishnan for hearing. Another set of appeals was filed before the court challenging the December 9 order of Justice Swaminathan in a contempt plea, wherein he directed the appearance of the Chief Secretary, ADGP, DCP, and impleading the Union Home Secretary. Justice GR Swaminathan had allowed the lighting of the Karthigai Deepam atop the Deepathoon, saying that the Deepathoon was not located in the area that belonged to the Muslims, and thus lighting the lamp would not affect the rights of the community.

The state cannot object to the lighting of a second lamp atop the hill: Hindu devotees

Appearing for a Hindu devotee, Senior Advocate S Sriram pointed out before the High Court that the HR&CE Commissioner earlier commented that even if Lord Murugan has two wives, two lamps cannot be lit at Thiruparankundram. “My trust in my Gods, my faith, is a subject matter of scorn by the Commissioner! It is sheer contempt for my faith. Please don’t send me to a Commissioner who has undisguised scorn and contempt for my faith!” Sriram said.

Senior Advocate KPS Palanival, representing another Hindu devotee, also submitted that the authorities have no right to object to the lighting of a second lamp on the hill. “Lighting of the lamp is an essential religious practice, which has to be lit on top of the hill. We can’t say, you are already lighting one, why a second? Deepam has its own relevance to religion,” Palanival said.

“It’s lit for very many reasons. It’s a manifestation of God. Secondly, everyone in the village can see. Third, at that time, there was no electricity, so lighting had its own significance. A mountain can have multiple peaks. There are mountains with dual peaks. In this case, there are 2 peaks, even as per the photographs. An appropriate place for lighting would have been the peak that’s occupied by the dargah. For some reason, the temple lost its highest peak. Therefore, the next lower peak is selected,” Palanival said, explaining the significance of the Karthigai deepam.

State wants Hindus to coexist by surrendering their rights: Hindu devotees

Senior Advocate Sriram urged the court not to accept the state’s argument that the devotees should approach the HR&CE authority to settle the dispute, instead of litigating the matter. “I do not think my rights are safe in the rights of the authorities … What further scorn and contempt I will have to face there?” he said.

Ruling out the possibility of the case being settled through mediation, Sriram contended that every time a peace meeting has been held, the temple ended up having to retreat or relinquish its rights. “It is like saying ‘we will wound, let you in pain (and then offer mediation)’ – it is a case of toxic mental cruelty, as is referred to in the matrimonial scene. Every other resolution meeting ended with Hindus retreating, giving up little more of their rights,” the counsel stated.

He accused the state authorities of being biased against Hindus and said that the state wanted coexistence at the cost of Hindus surrendering their rights. “The submission of the State is ‘keep retreating, don’t assert your right, live for another day.’ This is the stand of the State, which is the guardian, who needs to be secular and fiercely neutral to protect my rights under Article 25 … The State wants us to coexist, but I can coexist only if I surrender,” Sriram argued.

Senior Advocate Sriram further submitted that there have been attempts to encroach upon the temple’s rights. “It’s not mere apprehensions of encroachment; this is the stance of the other side, calling it Sikkandar Hill, asking for animal sacrifice, defacing the walls. Religion should not have colour, but the hills have been painted green during a festival by the other side,” Sriram pointed out.

State trying to change the nature of the Hill: Hindu devotees

Sriram defended the order passed by Justice Swaminathan, who is facing an impeachment motion initiated by the entire INDI bloc led by the DMK for upholding the legitimate rights of Hindu devotees. Refuting the allegations of the order passed by Justice Swaminathan being based on “whims and fancies,” Sriram said that it was a reasoned order. “It is a reasoned order .. If there is whim and fancy, it is at the foot of appellants, actuated by the compulsions of being blinded to one side and being welcoming to the other. That has percolated to the temple and the trust board, who refuse to speak, and the executive officer who toes the line of the State,” Sriram said.

Countering the claim that the Places of Worship Act prevents Hindus from changing the nature of the stone pillar by calling it a deepathoon, Sriram said, “If anyone is changing the religious nature of the hill, it is the State. It was always a deepathoon meant for (Hindu devotees).”

The state could not prove that the stone pillar is not deepathoon: Hindu devotees

Appearing for another Hindu devotee, Senior Advocate Valliapan contended before the High Court that lighting the Karthigai lamp atop the Thiruparakundram hill is an essential Hindu religious practice. “It is an essential religious practice amongst Hindus to light the deepam on the day of Karthigai on top of the hill for many reasons. We see the manifestation, the jyothi swaroopam of God. Everybody can see …. Lighting agni (fire) atop the hill has got religious significance. We consider it as God itself, that is why it is lit on top of the hill,” Valliapan said.

He pointed out that the State could not produce any record to prove that the pillar is not a deepathoon. “Yesterday, there was an argument (by the Muslim side) that the ‘entire hilltop belongs to us.’ No, the entire hill belongs to the Devasthanam barring some portions,” he stated.

Advocate Krishnavalli raised questions on the State’s intent behind its insistence on the matter being settled outside the court, while the Muslim side did not object to the litigation.”Every time a Hindu or member of the public comes to (court) to see worship is done in a manner, it is done at the appropriate stage and place, what is the problem of devasthanam and HRCE to say we should go to HRCE?” the advocate asked.

Muslims built flats on ancient Hindu temple, non-veg shops opened: Gujarat CM orders investigation into Danilimda controversy, OpIndia ground report reveals shocking details

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Muslims built flats on ancient Hindu temple, non-veg shops opened: Gujarat CM orders investigation into Danilimda controversy, OpIndia ground report reveals shocking details

In Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, a massive row erupted over ancient Hindu temples located opposite the Mewati ki Chalini, in Danilimda ward, being demolished for the illegal construction of a building. Multiple complaints were made to the local municipal corporation in this regard. Despite there being a law-and-order situation and strong opposition from Hindus, permission was granted to Muslims to build flats on top of the Puranic Hindu temples. For this, two temples were demolished, and flats were also constructed.

While most of the temples are reported to have been demolished, one ancient temple remains inside the building where all the flats are owned by Muslim families. Outraged by this, local Hindus filed complaints before the municipal corporation and even the collector’s office; however, no action was taken.

It was only after a complaint was filed in Gandhinagar that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took cognisance of the matter and ordered an investigation. Local Hindus hope that the government will take immediate action and demolish the illegally constructed flats and buildings and liberate the temple. The OpIndia team also went to the spot and investigated, and also spoke to the locals. 

Notably, in 2016, the municipality permitted the building of flats on the peak of the ancient Jogni Mata temple. A builder named Sakir Ahmed had submitted the plan for the construction of the building to the corporation, which was also approved by the AMC. Even then, local Hindus strongly opposed it, but no action was taken. However, now CM Bhupendra Patel has ordered an investigation into the matter. 

‘We were fighting for years against Muslims building flats on Hindu temples’: Local Hindus tell OpIndia

In conversation with the OpIndia ground team, locals said that the name of the illegally constructed building is ‘Kabir Heights’ and Muslim families live in all the flats in it. A local person said that the Chief Minister has taken cognisance of the matter. However, he said that Hindus have been fighting for years regarding the illegal flats built on this temple. He said that despite making several representations and complaints at the local level, no solution was found. 

Another local said that many years ago, there was a village well at this place, which is what derives this place’s name. There was a temple of Mataji in the village well, and over time, this temple was built incorrectly. He demanded that this construction be completely removed. The BJP president of Danilimda also spoke to OpIndia regarding this incident.

He said that for a long time, there was a period of discussion, struggle and petitions in this area, locals had also filed petitions in many places, and now keeping that in mind, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered an investigation. The local Hindus expressed hope that after the Chief Minister’s order, it seems that they and the Hindu temples will definitely get justice. Meanwhile, the locals also expressed their gratitude to the Bhupendra Patel-led BJP government.

It is worth noting that the spire of the temple was also visible in the middle of the building earlier, but now, for a long time now, boards have been put up outside the building in such a way that the spire is covered. In addition, it can also be seen in the video that efforts have been made to hide the identity of the Hindu temple by putting up a net.

This report was first published in OpIndia Gujarati which can be checked here.

Maharashtra: 27,397 births recorded for a population of 1,500 in a Yavatmal district village, BJP leader suspects beneficiaries include Bangladeshis; probe underway

Aditi
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Maharashtra: 27,397 births recorded for a population of 1,500 in a Yavatmal district village, BJP leader suspects beneficiaries include Bangladeshis; probe underway

A major birth registration scam has been uncovered in the rural area of the Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. In an alarming revelation from Shendursani Gram Panchayat in Arni taluka of the district, 27,397 births were recorded for a population of 1,500 in the civil registration system (CRS) within three months from September to November. The matter first came to light on 24th November, and an FIR was lodged at the Yavatmal city police station on Tuesday (16th December) on the complaint of the district health officer (DHO). The FIR was registered under Sections 318(4), 337, 336(3), and 304(2) and Sections 65 and 66 of the IT Act. “A complaint regarding irregularities in birth registration entries of Shendursani has been received, and a probe has been launched,” said Police Inspector Nandkishor Kale.

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya visited the village on Wednesday (17th December) and demanded an investigation into the matter. Speaking to the media, Somaiya expressed the suspicion that the credentials of the gram panchayat’s computer operator might have been misused by someone.

In a post on X, he said there are suspicions that thousands of Bangladeshis are beneficiaries. He has requested an SIT investigation into the matter.

He said that most of the names found in the records belong to people from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and surrounding regions. “I have spoken to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded that all these birth registration entries be cancelled,” Somaiya added. Notably, the CRS ID (MH18241RE) of Shendursani gram panchayat was also found mapped in Mumbai, indicating a cyber fraud.

A verification drive was initiated at the direction of the state government on 16th December to identify and cancel illegal and delayed birth and death registrations in the gram panchayat. During the verification, the officials of the health department in Arni came across 27,397 birth entries and seven death entries recorded between September and November 2025 in the CRS software. The numbers were clearly disproportionate to the actual population of the village.

Consequently, the DHO informed Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mandar Patki, about the anomaly. The CEO constituted an inquiry committee headed by the deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Panchayat department. An on-site inspection was conducted by the committee at the village, which revealed that 27,397 birth records and seven death records did not fall within the gram panchayat’s jurisdiction and were considered highly suspicious.

Subsequently, a technical investigation was initiated by the Deputy Director of Health Services, Pune. The investigation done using the state login system disclosed that the CRS ID of Shendursani has been mapped to Mumbai. Thereafter, the case was referred to the office of the Additional Registrar General of India, New Delhi, and the National Informatics Centre (NIC). According to their assessment, this was a case of cyberfraud. The finding was then communicated to the Deputy Director of Health Services, Pune, on 11th December, who subsequently informed the Zill Parishad.

Maharashtra: Man suffers fractured shoulder, deep injuries as Imran Ahmed Shaikh and two others assault him for shooing away a stray dog; Exclusive FIR details

Anurag
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Maharashtra: Man suffers fractured shoulder, deep injuries as Imran Ahmed Shaikh and two others assault him for shooing away a stray dog; Exclusive FIR details

On 16th December, a late-night walk home in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar turned violent after a man and his relatives were assaulted for merely shooing away a barking stray dog. The victim, identified as Salikram Bholanath Yadav, suffered a fractured shoulder and head injuries requiring stitches following an attack by three local men in the Pantnagar police station limits. OpIndia has accessed the FIR registered in the matter.

What happened on the night of the incident

The incident occurred in the early hours of 16th December at around 2:30 am near Shravasti Buddha Vihar in Ramabai Colony, Ghatkopar East. The complainant was walking home with his nephew Akash Yadav and a relative, Rajan Yadav, after finishing work and having a meal.

According to Yadav, the trio briefly stopped as his nephew needed to use the restroom. At that point, a stray dog began barking aggressively at Akash. To scare the dog away, Akash raised his slipper. However, he did not hit the animal. Three men, sitting nearby and warming themselves by a bonfire, objected and accused Akash of hitting the dog.

The trio attempted to explain that no harm was caused to the dog and walked away peacefully. However, the three men allegedly followed and stopped them, leading to a violent assault.

What the FIR says

OpIndia accessed the FIR registered in the case at Pantnagar police station on the complaint of Salikram Bholanath Yadav. The case has been registered under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 118(2), 3(5) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Source: Maharashtra Police

According to the FIR, the accused have been identified as Imran Ahmed Shaikh, Sampat Bhagirath Sutar and Hritik Sanjay Chandramore. All of them are residents of Ramabai Colony. The complainant stated that Hritik first struck him on the head with a wooden plank, which caused a bleeding injury. After that, Imran used the same wooden plank to hit Yadav on his left shoulder, left leg and back, which resulted in severe injuries.

Source: Maharashtra Police

Furthermore, Sampat assaulted Akash and Rajan with fists and kicks, causing them injuries. After the assault, the three accused fled the spot. Yadav later went to Rajawadi Hospital for treatment with a relative. Doctors informed him that he had suffered a fracture to his left shoulder and required multiple stitches on his head.

Source: Maharashtra Police

Fear and insecurity after the assault

In his statement, Yadav said that he had lived in the area for 25 years and nothing of this sort had happened earlier. He expressed fear for his safety and that of his family. He questioned whether residents are even allowed to protect themselves when faced with an aggressive stray dog.

Further investigation in the matter is underway.

As Afghanistan’s health infrastructure crumbles, read how India is helping the country after Taliban banned Pakistan’s poor-quality medicines

शिव
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As Afghanistan’s health infrastructure crumbles, read how India is helping the country after Taliban banned Pakistan’s poor-quality medicines

The situation for ordinary people in Afghanistan is becoming increasingly difficult under the Taliban rule. Amidst the ongoing border dispute with Pakistan, the Taliban regime’s complete ban on the import of Pakistani medicines has created a severe shortage of essential drugs in the country. People are desperately searching for even the most basic medications.

Having been betrayed by Pakistan, Afghanistan is now looking to India for support. Expressing their trust in India, a country that has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Afghan people, Taliban’s Health Minister, Noor Jalal Jalali, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday (December 16, 2025).

Afghanistan bans the import of medicines from Pakistan

Just a few days ago, Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy head of the Taliban-led government in Kabul and in charge of economic affairs, announced a ban on the import of all medicines from Pakistan. Baradar described the quality of Pakistani medicines as “poor” and instructed Afghan importers to settle all outstanding payments with Pakistani companies within three months and arrange for supplies from alternative countries.

However, the ground reality is that finding new suppliers is proving extremely difficult for Afghanistan. According to Noorullah Noori, Director General of Administrative Affairs in the Taliban government, more than 70% of the medicines in Afghanistan have so far been imported from Pakistan. The sudden ban has had a direct impact on ordinary citizens, who are finding it difficult to access even basic medicines.

Afghanistan’s Crumbling Health System Under Double Burden

For decades, Afghanistan has been able to produce only a very small fraction of the medicines it needs. The country suffers from a weak pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure, a severe shortage of pharmaceutical laboratories, ineffective quality control systems, and frequent disruptions to its supply chain. These shortcomings have made Afghanistan heavily reliant on imported medicines.

Even before the current crisis, Afghanistan’s healthcare system was extremely fragile. The situation worsened significantly after the Taliban seized power in August 2021. The country then faced a severe humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by persistent droughts, devastating floods, and a near-total collapse of the economy.

The influx of hundreds of thousands of Afghans deported from Iran and Pakistan in recent months has pushed Afghanistan’s already weak healthcare system to the brink of collapse. Many of these returnees require immediate medical attention, but the limited resources of the healthcare system are proving insufficient to meet their needs.

According to recent data, approximately 1.86 million Afghans were deported from Iran between January and August, while more than 314,000 returned from Pakistan. This means that in just eight months, more than two million Afghan citizens have been forced to return to their country. The majority of these returnees require healthcare services.

According to the United Nations, nearly 22.9 million people, or almost half of the country’s total population of 46 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance. 16.8 million people have been identified as requiring aid, for which approximately US$2.42 billion is needed.

United Nations data (Photo Credit: UN)

Meanwhile, humanitarian aid operations in Afghanistan are facing a severe funding shortage, aggravating an already critical situation. The country’s health system is extremely fragile, and access to healthcare remains uneven, particularly in rural areas. Limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of trained personnel have brought the entire health system to near collapse.

The frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases, serious maternal and child health issues, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases are contributing to increased rates of morbidity and mortality in Afghanistan. According to health experts, there is a significant risk of several diseases spreading in the coming months. These include acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), measles, polio, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), dengue, COVID-19, pertussis (whooping cough), and malaria.

Experts and humanitarian organisations warn that the situation in Afghanistan could become even more dire, with a surge in disease, deaths, and a mental health crisis, if immediate and adequate funding for health and humanitarian aid is not provided. A fragile healthcare system and ever-increasing needs are pushing the country towards a prolonged and profound humanitarian crisis.

Afghanistan needs India’s help to stay ‘healthy’

Following Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Industry and Commerce Minister Alhajj Nooruddin Azizi, Health Minister Maulvi Noor Jalal Jalali also arrived in India. His visit is being considered crucial for assisting Afghanistan, which is grappling with a health crisis. India has been consistently working to strengthen Afghanistan’s healthcare infrastructure. Earlier this month, India sent 63,734 doses of influenza and meningitis vaccines to Afghanistan.

Earlier, on November 28, India sent 73 tons of life-saving medicines, vaccines, and essential supplies to meet Afghanistan’s health needs. The Ministry of External Affairs wrote on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), “Boosting Afghanistan’s healthcare efforts, India has sent 73 tons of life-saving medicines, vaccines, and essential supplementary materials to Kabul to address immediate medical requirements. India’s unwavering support for the Afghan people continues.”

In October, when Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India, India expressed its commitment to assisting Afghanistan’s healthcare sector. India announced the establishment of a specialised centre in Kabul for children and patients suffering from thalassemia. It also announced the construction of a modern diagnostic centre and the replacement of the outdated heating system at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul.

Additionally, India is building a new 30-bed hospital in the Bagrami area of ​​Kabul, an oncology centre for cancer treatment, and a trauma centre for treating serious injuries. Furthermore, India announced the construction of five maternity health clinics in the Paktika, Khost, and Paktia provinces of Afghanistan to provide care for mothers and newborns in different parts of the country. During this visit, India also gifted 20 ambulances to Afghanistan to ensure that patients can be transported to hospitals promptly.

At a time when many countries are viewing Afghanistan solely through a political lens, India has made it clear that the focus of its foreign policy is not power, but the suffering of the Afghan people, and that India stands with Afghanistan in this difficult time. By putting the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) into practice, rising above borders, differences, and global politics, India stands firmly with its centuries-old friend.

(This article is a translation of the original article published on OpIndia Hindi.)

Fixing the front door of justice: How the Supreme Court and CJI Surya Kant are reforming the oral mentioning problem

Divyansh Tiwari
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Fixing the front door of justice: How the Supreme Court and CJI Surya Kant are reforming the oral mentioning problem

In the Supreme Court, ‘oral mentioning’ served as an unofficial pressure-valve for decades. Advocates would rise at the beginning of the day and ask for an out-of-turn listing, typically citing urgency. It was helpful in situations involving the death penalty, impending demolition, bail, habeas corpus, and eviction that were truly urgent. However, it also established a parallel path into the Court’s diary that relied more on prominence, seniority, and courtroom access than on objective standards. With a series of changes implemented under Chief Justice Surya Kant on December 1, 2025, the Supreme Court has now attempted to address that tension.

The new framework 

The focus of attention is a Registry circular dated November 29, 2025, which states unequivocally that, except a very few, defined circumstances, no oral mentioning will be allowed before the Chief Justice of India. The same circular also adds a strict guardrail, junior lawyers may be urged to undertake whatever oral mentioning is still allowed under the new framework, but no designated Senior lawyers shall be allowed to do so before any court. This is significant because, as oral mentioning developed, it appeared to be a privilege of the most well-known speakers in Court No.1, giving the impression and occasionally the reality that the well-connected might shorten the line.

Instead of delay by paperwork, a predictable, documented procedure takes the place of the previous ritual. The Court has implemented automated listing within the next two working days for new cases that fall within certain urgency categories, particularly those concerning personal liberty or urgent interim relief, after the case is verified and any defects are fixed. Both the categories and the internal timing discipline are outlined in the circular. Litigants are informed that there is no necessity to mention for inclusion in certain auto-listed categories, and verified cases (filed or cleared by the cut off) get into the Main or Supplementary List. The reform’s most citizen-centric component aims to guarantee that an individual’s freedom is not contingent upon a senior advocate’s ability to speak at 10:30 a.m.

Regular bail, anticipatory bail, cancellation of bail, the death sentence, habeas corpus, eviction/dispossession, demolition, and any other matter that requires urgent interim relief are among the auto-listing categories outlined in the circular. The same circular also includes a compliance lever that, after registration, bail proceedings must be sent to the respondent’s (Union, State, or UT) Nodal Officer or Standing Counsel; otherwise, the case might not be confirmed and listed. In other words, provided the minimal fairness requirements are satisfied, the Court is working quickly to avoid “urgent” remarks that are procedurally half-baked. 

The second layer is as follows. The Court permits mentioning only through a Mentioning Proforma along with Letter of Urgency submitted to a Mentioning Officer within specified deadlines (usually by 3:00 p.m. the previous working day and 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays) in cases not covered by automatic listing or in which a party requests an earlier date than the scheduled date because urgent interim orders are required. The proforma and urgency letter must be sent by 10:30 a.m. for the limited range of ‘exceptionally urgent’ cases, which specifically include anticipatory bail, the death penalty, habeas corpus, eviction/dispossession, and demolition. Crucially, the system now passes the request through the Registrar (Judicial Listing) for orders and requires an urgent letter explaining why the matter cannot wait for listing on the appointed date.

The third layer is an institutional disciplinary regulation that specifically targets the open ended aspect of traditional mentioning. Only topics that are included in the public Mentioning List are allowed to be stated, everything else is prohibited. Only a filed application requesting urgent relief or an early hearing may be considered for mentioning, once more via the proforma procedure; regular hearing cases cannot be mentioned for listing at all. This is not ornamental, rather, it transforms an arbitrary, personality driven moment in public court into an administrative judgment that can be tracked using standard inputs and timestamps. 

When taken as a whole, these actions show what CJI Surya Kant seems to be doing strategically: changing the focus from who can persuade the bench in two minutes to which cases objectively require immediate court time. Even earlier, on his first day, the public signal was given. According to reports, the CJI clarified that, unless there are exceptional circumstances, requests for urgent listings must be submitted in writing via mentioning slips, with the Registry determining the urgency first. That strategy is pro-process rather than anti-lawyer. Additionally, procedural equality is a necessity for legitimacy in a court that must distribute limited hearing time among tens of thousands of pending cases.

From oral requests to written rules 

Additionally, this transformation is part of a broader institutional arc. The same issue was brought up time and time again by previous Chief Justices. Queue jumping by mentioning was skewing access. In 2024, CJI Sanjiv Khanna prohibited oral mentioning and instructed advocates to submit petitions via email or printed slips or letters expressing urgency. When CJI Ranjan Gogoi took office in 2018, he prohibited urgent mentioning until parameters were established, excepting only dire situations like someone being evicted or hanged. Even CJI BR Gavai pushed in 2025 to specifically prohibit senior counsel from appearing in Court No. 1 in order to provide room for juniors and lessen the influence of the traditional voices. The combination of automatic listing, defined proforma-based mentioning, and published mentioning lists implemented simultaneously and connected to the verification discipline is what sets apart the CJI Surya Kant phase, not just the mood.

How was oral mentioning misused?

Now for the delicate but inevitable question: how and by whom was oral mentioning ‘misused’? The safest and most equitable way to describe it from a professional standpoint is that even in cases when individual remarks were genuine, the technique was fundamentally susceptible to abuse. Oral mentioning tended to favor those with (a) physical presence and familiarity in Court No.1 (b) confidence and courtroom capital, and (c) the ability to frame urgency persuasively in a matter of seconds because it took place in open court, within a limited time window, and with limited ability to verify claims on the spot. 

The senior bar and well-funded litigants have a substantial correlation with that set of benefits. The technique could enable wealthy clients to obtain out-of-turn hearings by engaging senior counsel, but it would require significant judicial time each morning, according to commentary surrounding the 2024 ‘no oral mentioning’ directive. 

Where does ideology fit in? Many of the most well known cause ‘PILs’ in India’s legal system, which are frequently structured around free speech, civil liberties, executive action, or governance, are defended by a select group of prominent senior advocates. Some of these individuals are thought to be ideologically conservative, others to be institutionally moderate, and yet others to be ‘left liberal aligned.’ The more crucial point is to clarify that activist litigation has natural incentives to push for immediate listing because it is intended to be urgent, high impact, and headline sensitive, and that a discretionary, personality-centric gatekeeping mechanism predictably rewards the loudest and most networked litigators. 

This occasionally contributed to the public’s image of two tracks under the previous culture, one for common litigants who waited, and another for high-salience cases that made it to the Court more quickly through effective mentioning. Reducing discretion at the entry point and allowing verified urgency, particularly liberty, to drive priority are the best ways to interpret the Surya Kant changes as an institutional response to that perspective. 

The legitimacy of this reform is further reinforced by a constitutional administrative context. The Chief Justice’s administrative supremacy as ‘Master of the Roster’ has been frequently upheld by the Supreme Court. Listing and roster control are administrative functions. The Court reaffirmed that roster distribution is crucial to institutional operation and cannot be undermined by conflicting allegations in Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms v. Union of India (2018) 1 SCC 196) and related cases. Although oral mentioning is not the same as roster allocation, it has a direct impact on listing results, and controlling it through documented regulations is exactly the kind of administrative housekeeping that fortifies the Court’s impartiality. 

Conclusion

From a governance standpoint, the changes are consistent with court administration in the digital age. For a long time, the Supreme Court’s e-Committee has promoted organised methods for urgent listing, such as online platforms that allow plaintiffs and advocates to submit urgent briefs for orders. In order to prevent courtroom theatrics from determining a litigant’s destiny, the 2025 reset applies that administrative logic to everyday practice: urgency should be prioritized with least drama, maximum documentation, and equal opportunity.

In conclusion, it would be better to describe CJI Surya Kant’s declaration stating regulation as a rebalancing rather than a crackdown. It reduces a VIP prone entryway that had become detrimental to the institution’s reputation while maintaining the Court’s responsiveness when it comes to personal liberty and urgent temporary relief. The circulars reorganize urgency rather than eliminating it. The reform’s modest strength is that it seeks to transform the Supreme Court into a constitutional court whose time is distributed according to principles rather than locality.  

From Akhilesh Yadav wanting terrorists who attacked Sankat Mochan Temple released from prison to Yogi Adityanath protecting innocent Hindus: The change in Uttar Pradesh

अर्पित त्रिपाठी
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From Akhilesh Yadav wanting terrorists who attacked Sankat Mochan Temple released from prison to Yogi Adityanath protecting innocent Hindus: The change in Uttar Pradesh

The quality of leadership depends on the mindset of the person occupying the chair. The laws do not change, the system does not change, only the decisions change with the change in leadership. Uttar Pradesh offers a clear example of this contrast. When politics driven by the MY (Muslim-Yadav) equation dominates, decisions often tilt towards appeasement. When the same chair is occupied by a saffron-clad chief minister, the focus visibly shifts to law and order and justice.

This difference becomes clear when past and present cases are placed side by side.

Dadri lynching case: A decade of legal struggle

In September 2015, Mohammad Akhlaq was beaten to death by a mob in Dadri for allegedly consuming beef. Uttar Pradesh was ruled by the Samajwadi Party with Akhilesh Yadav as the chief minister. Close to two dozen Hindu youths were arrested and imprisoned after this incident.

The case dragged on for years, but even today, there is no clear legal conclusion on who actually killed Akhlaq. During the investigation, it later emerged that beef had been cooked inside Akhlaq’s house. Despite this, the arrested youths continued to face trial, spending years running from one court to another.

Now, after almost a decade, the Yogi Adityanath-led government has approached the court to seek the withdrawal of cases against 18 Hindu youths, who are accused in the Dadri incident. The case is expected to be heard on 18th December. The withdrawal of cases will finally bring some respite to a family that has been waiting for almost a decade.

Akhilesh Yadav government and the ‘Innocent Muslim Youth’ narrative

To understand the political contrast, we must go back to 2012, when Akhilesh Yadav became chief minister. The Samajwadi Party’s thinking was already visible in its election manifesto, which promised to release what it called “innocent Muslim youths” arrested in terror-related cases. The party did not stop at release alone; it even spoke about providing compensation.

After coming to power, the government began the process in April 2012 to withdraw cases against 19 Muslim accused. These were not minor offenders. Among them was Waliullah, a terrorist involved in the 2006 Sankat Mochan temple blast in Varanasi, which killed seven people. When other linked blasts were included, the total death toll reached 18.

Investigating agencies had established that Waliullah had links with the Bangladesh-based terror group HuJI and had entered India after receiving training. Later, a court awarded him the death sentence. Yet, before that, the Samajwadi Party government was prepared to treat him as an “innocent” youth and push for his release.

More cases, same pattern

The same approach was seen in the Gorakhpur serial blast case. Accused Tariq Qasmi was also described as an ‘innocent youth’, and efforts were made to secure his release. He eventually died in jail, despite being found guilty by a court.

Another name that surfaced was Sitara Begum, who had provided shelter to Pakistani spy Vakas Ahmed. Even her case was considered for withdrawal.

At the same time, senior party leaders made statements from public platforms that strengthened the perception of appeasement. Remarks like “Muslim daughters are our daughters” sparked questions about whether the government’s priorities were justice and security or political calculations.

Courts step in to stop case withdrawals

The situation became so serious that even the judiciary had to intervene. In 2012, the Allahabad High Court openly criticised the Akhilesh Yadav government, stating that it was not the government’s job to decide who was a terrorist and who was innocent.

In a sharp remark, the court even said that if the government continued like this, it might as well award Padma Bhushan honours to those accused of terrorism. Following the court’s strong words, the government was forced to step back.

The cost paid by Dadri accused families

While terror accused were being considered for release, the condition of Hindu youths accused in the Dadri case continued to worsen. Some families sold land, others sold their homes. Entire households were destroyed financially and emotionally.

One accused, Ravi, died in jail. His land was sold, his family was pushed into poverty, and his wife was left widowed. Ravi’s mother later told media outlets that her son was subjected to severe torture in jail. There were also allegations that these actions were carried out under pressure from powerful figures, including senior political leaders like Azam Khan.

The contrast was stark, on one side, efforts to free terror accused, and on the other, families like Ravi’s left to suffer with no relief.

Yogi government’s legal route to Justice

The Yogi Adityanath government has now taken a different approach. Instead of making political announcements, it has followed the constitutional path by approaching the court to withdraw cases against 18 Hindu youths in the Dadri matter.

If the court accepts the plea, these youths may finally be able to live normal lives again after years of legal harassment. For them, it would mean an end to stigma, court visits, and financial ruin.

A shift in governance style 

The difference between the two governments is evident. While the Akhilesh Yadav era is remembered for trying to tag terror suspects as ‘innocent’ when under pressure, it’s law, order, and accountability that define Yogi Adityanath’s government.

Yogi Adityanath has already reaffirmed that power is not to appease anyone but to take responsibility. In a state where governments used to falter with vote bank politics, his government has made it amply clear that the law is for all.

His firm stance against the mafia and gangs illustrates this strategy. His government has steered away from covering up for criminals and practice blatant appeasement. Rather, they focus on serving justice and the safety of society.

Congress speaks like Pakistan, again: Former Maha CM Prithviraj Chavan claims India was ‘defeated’ on day 1 of Operation Sindoor, Air Force was ‘completely grounded’

Rukma Rathore
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Congress speaks like Pakistan, again: Former Maha CM Prithviraj Chavan claims India was ‘defeated’ on day 1 of Operation Sindoor, Air Force was ‘completely grounded’

The Congress party, notorious for pushing petty political objectives ahead of the interests of the country has once again come under fire for displaying its perverse fondness for the terror state of Pakistan. Prithviraj Chavan, a senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Maharashtra, alleged that Indian planes were not only shot down during “Operation Sindoor” but the country was even beaten on the first day of the intense conflict.

“On the first day, we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the Air Force was fully grounded,” he insisted with the conviction of an official spokesperson of the Islamic Republic.

Interestingly, a report from a United States Commission last month revealed the propaganda surrounding India’s loss of jets. It emphasised how China initiated a disinformation campaign to hinder the sale of French Rafale aircraft in favor of its own J-35s, utilising artificial intelligence to generate fake visuals of supposed debris from the aircraft.

Pakistan, which heavily relies on Chinese weaponry, has relentlessly perpetuated the same falsehoods since India dismantled its terror infrastructure. However, the Indian National Congress appears to be very eager to adopt its misleading narrative even if it proves detrimental to India.

Chavan then went further to question the justification for India to uphold large military forces. “Recently, we saw during Operation Sindoor, there was not even a one-kilometre movement of the military. Whatever happened over two or three days was only an aerial war and missile warfare. In the future, too, wars will be fought in the same way. In such a situation, do we really need to maintain an army of 12 lakh soldiers, or can we make they do some other work,” he asked.

Chavan, in pursuit of his twisted political objective, did not hesitate to involve the Indian defense forces in the argument, reminiscent of Pakistan’s obnoxious claim of 700,000 troops in Kashmir. He similarly appeared to have an issue with the number of forces that India maintains for its safety and security.

“Why will I apologise? It is out of the question. The Constitution gives me the right to ask questions,” Chavan shamelessly retorted when he was asked to apologise after the controversy.

The Congress party possesses a well-documented habit of using the Constitution as a shield after engaging in anti-India rhetoric. Chavan had earlier inquired if the government chose the name “Operation Sindoor” in order to achieve “sentimental benefits” in May.

Congress endorsed Pakistan’s decpetions during “Operation Sindoor”

Chavan is clearly not the first Congress leader to align with Pakistan’s sinister propaganda. Rahul Gandhi had already misrepresented External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s comments to bolster the adversar’s agenda during the operation.

Jaishankar indicated that Islamabad was notified regarding India’s actions shortly after their execution. The sequence of events verified by the PIB and nation’s defence authorities showed that the operation had already concluded by the time the message reached Islamabad. However, the Gandhi scion accused the union minister of a criminal act while Pawan Khera referred to it as mukhbiri (acting as an informant).

Revanth Reddy, the chief minister of Telangana, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the number of Rafale fighter jets that Pakistan allegedly shot down. Manickam Tagore, a Congress Lok Sabha MP, repeated the same fallacies and added that ministers in parliamentary democracies had a duty to address national security matters rasied by the opposition.

Another parliamentarian and president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee Congress, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, claimed to have pictures of the tail of a downed Rafale fighter and declared that it had been found at the Bhisiana Air Force station. These troubling remarks transpired even after it was firmly outlined that “all strikes were carried out without any loss of Indian assets, highlighting the efficiency of our surveillance, planning, and delivery systems.”

The party has sided with Islamabad, furthering their spurious narrative from the outset of “Operation Sindoor” and Chavan’s recent statements are yet another despicable illustration of this.

Congress consistently echoes the propaganda of Pakistan

New Delhi’s extensive military operation against Pakistan’s terror industry has exposed the Congress party’s alarming inclination to not only accept the fabrications propagated by the country over its own government and security forces but also to blatantly circulate them. Nevertheless, the unfortunate reality is that India’s hostile neighbor has consistently found an ally in the grand old party over the years.

The Congress, along with its former chief Rahul Gandhi, previously peddled conspiracy theories regarding the Pulwama attack and asked for the evidence of the Balakot airstrikes, mirroring the demands of Pakistan.

The party did not shy away from political maneuvering even regarding crucial matter of cross-border terrorism when Jaish-e-Mohammed supremo Muhammad Masood Azhar Alvi, also known as Masood Azhar was recognised as a global terrorist on the United Nations Sanctions List in 2019.

Afterward, Congress leaders and former chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, chose the pivotal development to criticise PM Modi, emphasising his purported “friendship” with Pakistan’s then Prime Minister and further asserted that this action stemmed from the Modi government’s intention to sway that year’s general elections.

Digvijaya Singh, who is already infamous for his pro-Pakistan and anti-Hindu remarks, charged that Bajrang Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party were financed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Additionally, he compared Hindus to spies for Pakistan and argued that non-Muslims are more likely to be working for the ISI than Muslims.

However, Singh later complained that several channels were broadcasting “totally wrong” news regarding his utterances. The incident took place in 2019 after which cases were filed against him.

Congress even drew inspiration from Pakistan’s tactics, which frequently involve surrounding Indian embassies under the guise of protests. The Indian Overseas Congress declared in 2019 that it would hold protests outside Indian embassies worldwide in opposition to the Modi government’s management of the Indian economy and “India’s deteriorating condition.”

Conclusion

The aforementioned provides just an insight into the political ideology of Congress. The party leaders, including the now-suspended Mani Shankar Aiyar, have been extremely vocal about their affection for Pakistan. Meanwhile, Congress had persistently adopted a softer stance towards the nation and refrained from taking any decisive action, even following multiple terror attacks, including the horrific 26/11. Likewise, the current statements represent a continuation of the party’s position on Pakistan.

Furthermore, Congress often slyly distances itself from the leader or contends that the statement was made in a “personal capacity” if it cannot handle the backlash in the country. On the other hand, such statements are picked up by Pakistan and broadcasted internationally to attack India. The terror entity earlier employed Rahul Gandhi’s remarks to strengthen its arguments at the United Nations.

Similarly, these comments frequently feature in Pakistani media which leverages them to propagate its deceit and dishonesty as truth. However, Congress continues to reinforce the narratives of the Islamic Republic repeatedly, even during critical moments, fully aware of the implications. The party’s disdain for PM Modi has truly devolved into contempt for India for not voting it to power.

From murder of Hindu student by minor Muslim accused to government takeover: The full story of Ahmedabad’s Seventh Day School, as exposed by OpIndia

ભાર્ગવ રાજ્યગુરુ
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From murder of Hindu student by minor Muslim accused to government takeover: The full story of Ahmedabad’s Seventh Day School, as exposed by OpIndia

Seventh Day Adventist High Secondary School in Ahmedabad’s Khokhra Maninagar area has been at the centre of controversy for the past few months. The school is part of the global educational network of the US-based Seventh-day Adventist Church and is managed by local trusts and other organisations. In August 2025, the school was embroiled in a controversy following the brutal murder of a Hindu student by a Muslim minor student. The incident exposed administrative lapse at the school and brought to light some past incidents involving allegations of religious conversion and administrative irregularities.

After the killing of the Hindu student, a committee was formed to conduct a detailed investigation. Following the investigation, the committee submitted a report to the District Education Officer (DEO). Ultimately, on December 15, 2025, the Gujarat government assumed control of the school’s administration. From now on, the school will be run by the government. The DEO will manage the school as the government’s representative. However, several conditions and regulations are attached to this takeover. Let’s examine the entire sequence of events.

A Hindu student brutally murdered at the school

Seventh Day Adventist High Secondary School is a popular school in the Ahmedabad area, but it gained national attention after the murder of a Hindu student in August. On August 19, 2025, after school, a Hindu student, studying in Class 10, was attacked by a minro Muslim student, studying in Class 8, with a sharp weapon, resulting in the Hindu student’s death. The attack stemmed from a minor dispute between the victim and the attacker. However, there were also indications of a pre-planned conspiracy.

After the attack, the blood-soaked Hindu student was not rushed to the hospital by the school administration. His family and friends took him to the hospital in a rickshaw. He succumbed to his injuries on 20th August. The school administration was accused of not calling an ambulance immediately or making any attempt to take the child to the hospital. Moreover, the school administration tried to destroy evidence by cleaning up the bloodstains.

The accused’s Instagram chat went viral

Immediately after the incident, the Instagram chat of the accused went viral on social media. The chats of the accused showed thathe admitted to killing the Hindu student and showed no remorse or fear. “Yes…so what?…” and “Now stop…what’s done is done,” the accused said in the chat. His friend advised him to delete the chat. The police took the accused, who considered the notorious criminal Pablo Escobar his role model, into custody under the Juvenile Justice Act. His bail application was rejected.

OpIndia provided comprehensive on-the-spot coverage of the incident. The deceased student’s grandfather and classmates told OpIndia that there had been past incidents of bullying, threats, and even the feeding of meat by Muslim students to Hindu students at the school, but the school ignored the complaints and took no action.

Widespread Protests and Initial Investigation

Following the incident, parents of the victim and other students, people from the Sindhi community, and Hindu organisations protested outside the school. On August 23, the Jan Akrosh Mandal Sangharsh Samiti paid a tribute to the deceased student in front of the school. Thousands of people, including leaders of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, paid tribute to the Hindu student. The Samiti released a helpline number and appealed to other victims of similar incidents to register their complaints. Following appeals from Hindu organisations, several areas of Ahmedabad observed a bandh (strike) in protest against the incident.

The school was closed after the incident, and students began attending classes online. Parents raised questions about the school’s affiliation with a foreign church and the allegations of forced conversions. The Jan Akrosh Mandal Sangharsh Samiti submitted a petition to the DEO, the mayor, and the AMC, demanding the cancellation of the school’s recognition and lease. Meanwhile, the parents of approximately 160 students requested transfer certificates.

District Education Officer (DEO) Rohit Chaudhary dismissed the school principal, G. Emmanuel, administrator Mayurika Patel, and other staff members, holding them responsible for gross negligence. The DEO issued several notices to the school and demanded various documents, including building use permission, minority status certificate, and trust clarification. Additionally, an inquiry committee was constituted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act and tasked with investigating the school.

Investigation and Proceedings

The inquiry officer issued several notices to the school and ordered the suspension of staff members, including Principal G. Emmanuel and administrative head Mayurika Patel, for allowing the injured student to remain unattended for an extended period and for obstructing the investigation. The school administration filed a petition in the High Court against the inquiry officer’s order, but the court reprimanded it and ordered it to cooperate with the investigation.

Following this incident, the inquiry committee constituted under the RTE Act submitted its report in October 2025, revealing serious irregularities. The school was operating illegally – it lacked permission to increase the number of classes, there were discrepancies in the trust (inconsistencies between the Ashlock Trust, Council of Seventh Day Adventist Educational Institute, and the India Financial Association), it did not possess a minority status certificate for the primary section, and the building use permission was also incomplete. In addition to that, the school was operating in two shifts, which was not permitted.

Furthermore, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had leased the school land for 99 years in 2003, but the lease terms were violated as the school was being operated by a different entity. Consequently, the AMC also initiated the process of cancelling the lease and issued a notice to the school.

Foreign Connections and Past Controversies

OpIndia’s in-depth investigation into this matter revealed several details about the school. The Seventh-day Adventist Higher Secondary School was run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, headquartered in Maryland, USA. This organisation operates over 7,800 educational institutions globally, and its values ​​are based on Christian beliefs.

The school in Ahmedabad started on a small scale in 1979 and was shifted to its current premises in 2003. It is affiliated with the CISCE and the Gujarat Board and is led by Christian figures such as Principal G. Emmanuel. Locally, it is managed by various entities such as the Ashlock Trust, the Council of Seventh-day Adventist Educational Institutions, and the India Financial Association, all of which have been found to have irregularities.

The school also faced serious allegations of religious conversion. Parents and locals told OpIndia that Christianity was propagated in moral science classes at the school, and students were encouraged to convert. It was also alleged that some students were promoted to the next class without taking exams in exchange for ₹2 lakh. The school is alleged to have been constructed on land that previously belonged to a temple.

In 2016, a student, studying in Class 4, was severely beaten by teacher Moses Adla, resulting in injuries and bleeding. The teacher was subsequently suspended. The school was again embroiled in a controversy in October 2024, after the school administration took around 200 students on a trip without permission from the DEO. The trip was in clear violation of government rules. The District Education Office took cognisance of the incident and issued a legal notice to the school administration, and also complained to the police. Recently, there were allegations that Muslim students fed Hindu students mutton, claiming it was paneer, but no action was taken.

The school taken over by the government

Parents and locals had been consistently demanding that the government take over the management of the school due to its controversial activities. Taking into account the findings of the recent investigations and discovered irregularities, the Gujarat government took over the administration of the school on December 15, 2025. The District Education Officer of Ahmedabad has been appointed as the administrator. New admissions to the school have been stopped, and the school has been allowed to continue operating to protect the interests of more than 10,000 students enrolled there.

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