Two Hindu organisations in Bengaluru on Monday, 5 October 2026, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Director of School Education for Ramanagara and Bengaluru South districts, demanding strict action against private schools that are allegedly conducting classes and examinations during the state-mandated Dasara holidays — and reportedly compensating with extended breaks in December during Christmas. The complaint was filed jointly by SriRama Sena-Karnataka and Hindu Jana Jagruti Vedike.

What the Government Order Says

The Karnataka government has declared a 19-day holiday for schools and colleges from 3 October to 21 October on the occasion of Dasara. The organisations allege that several private schools are disregarding this order, continuing with regular instruction and examinations despite complaints from parents and the public.

According to the organisations, the declared holiday period is intended to allow students to spend time with their families and engage with Karnataka's cultural heritage — a purpose that is defeated when schools schedule academic activities during the festival season.

Hindu Groups' Allegations

SriRama Sena-Karnataka district president Paramesh Gowda K. alleged that the practice was affecting Hindu religious sentiments. He claimed that certain private educational institutions routinely deny Dasara holidays while providing a longer break during Christmas in December. The organisations said they had been protesting against this pattern for the past three years and were now formally urging the School Education Department to enforce compliance with the holiday notification.

Conducting examinations and classes during the holiday window, the organisations argued, creates unnecessary academic pressure on students and undermines the cultural significance of Dasara — described as a historically and culturally important festival of Karnataka.

Private Schools' Counter-Argument

D. Shashikumar of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) pushed back sharply, calling the demand 'totally wrong.' He said private and unaided schools are bound by prescribed syllabi and stipulated teaching durations, and are required to operate for 245 working days per academic year as mandated by rules.

'Private schools will declare holidays according to their syllabus and teaching requirements. Some institutions may reduce the holidays by a week and provide them during December,' Shashikumar said. He also noted that schools retain some discretion in granting holidays for local festivals — typically three to four days — depending on circumstances, and that CBSE and ICSE schools follow their own academic structures and timetables.

'The Education Department is not a dictator. Schools are required to function for 245 days as per the rules,' he added.

Broader Context

The dispute is part of a recurring tension in Karnataka between state government holiday schedules — often aligned with Hindu festivals — and the operational requirements of private, unaided schools affiliated with central boards. This is at least the third consecutive year, according to the organisations, that formal protests have been lodged on this issue. The School Education Department has not issued a public response to the latest memorandum as of Monday.

What Happens Next

The organisations have called on the Education Department to initiate formal action against non-compliant institutions before the Dasara holiday window closes on 21 October. Whether the department will intervene — and on what legal basis, given CBSE and ICSE schools' separate regulatory frameworks — remains to be seen.