NHRC issues notice to Telangana over Hyderabad 'Kalma' homework row
Synopsis
A homework entry asking a Class 2 Hindu student in Hyderabad to memorise the Kalma has drawn a formal NHRC notice to the Telangana government, with the commission citing a blatant violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution. The teacher has been sacked, but the question of institutional accountability — and the state's response — remains open.
Key Takeaways
The NHRC has issued a notice to the Telangana government over a Class 2 student in Hyderabad's Saidabad being allegedly asked to memorise the 'Kalma' as homework.
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo described the incident as a 'blatant violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India.' The complaint was filed by an organisation called 'Seva Nyayasthan Foundation' .
The school management terminated the teacher concerned by Thursday , a day before the NHRC's public statement.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) condemned the incident; VHP's Vinod Bansal called it 'a direct assault on children's constitutional rights.' The Telangana government has been directed to submit a detailed report to the NHRC.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a formal notice to the Telangana government and directed it to take appropriate action after a Class 2 student at a private school in Hyderabad's Saidabad area was allegedly asked by a teacher to memorise the 'Kalma' — an Islamic declaration of faith — as a homework assignment. NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo confirmed on Friday, 17 July that the commission has also sought a detailed report from the state government.
How the Incident Came to Light
The homework assignment was reportedly written in the student's school diary, and photographs of the entry circulated widely on social media, triggering sharp reactions from parents and community members. Once the student's parents became aware of the alleged instruction, they confronted the school management, demanding swift action against those responsible.
Videos of parents in a heated exchange with school authorities also spread online, drawing broader community attention to the matter. Local residents joined the parents in protesting what they described as alleged 'inhuman practices' at the institution.
NHRC's Action and Constitutional Concern
NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo stated that the commission received a complaint from an organisation called 'Seva Nyayasthan Foundation'. 'We have received a complaint from an organisation called Seva Nyayasthan Foundation. The complaint stated that a school in Hyderabad has been giving Hindu students homework to memorise the Kalma,' he said.
Kanoongo added: 'This is a serious matter and amounts to a blatant violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution of India. We have issued a notice to the Telangana state government regarding this matter, directed it to take appropriate action, and sought a detailed report.'
Article 28(3) of the Indian Constitution prohibits educational institutions receiving state aid from compelling students to attend religious instruction or worship without their consent.
School Acts; VHP Condemns
The school management had, by Thursday, terminated the services of the teacher in question. However, the dismissal did not fully contain the fallout, with community protests continuing and the matter escalating to the national human rights body.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) issued a sharp condemnation of the incident. VHP's Vinod Bansal said: 'Schools are temples of knowledge, not centres for imposing religious education. The incident of teaching kalma to innocent second-grade students in Bhagyanagar (Hyderabad) is a direct assault on children's constitutional rights and parents' trust. Strict action should be taken against the guilty school management.'
What Happens Next
The Telangana government is now under obligation to respond to the NHRC notice with a detailed account of the steps taken. The commission's intervention elevates the matter beyond a local school dispute into a question of constitutional compliance and minority-majority religious boundaries in publicly accessible private education. How the state government responds — and how swiftly — will determine whether further action by the NHRC follows.
Point of View
Yet swift HR action does not address how such an assignment passed unnoticed through the school's internal checks. Telangana's response to the notice will be telling: a cursory reply risks further NHRC escalation, while a thorough inquiry could set a precedent for how states handle religion-in-classroom complaints. The broader pattern — incidents of alleged religious overreach in schools periodically surfacing and going viral — points to a regulatory gap that neither state education departments nor the NHRC have yet closed structurally.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hyderabad school 'Kalma' homework controversy?
A teacher at a private school in Hyderabad's Saidabad area allegedly assigned a Class 2 student the task of memorising the 'Kalma' — an Islamic declaration of faith — as a homework activity written in the child's school diary. Photographs of the diary entry went viral on social media, prompting parental protests and a formal complaint to the NHRC.
What action has the NHRC taken in the Kalma homework case?
The NHRC issued a formal notice to the Telangana government on 17 July, directing it to take appropriate action and submit a detailed report. NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo cited a 'blatant violation of Article 28(3) of the Constitution,' which prohibits compelling students to receive religious instruction without consent.
What happened to the teacher involved in the Kalma homework incident?
The school management terminated the services of the teacher concerned by Thursday, a day before the NHRC's public statement. However, the dismissal did not prevent the matter from escalating to the national human rights body.
What is Article 28(3) of the Indian Constitution?
Article 28(3) prohibits any educational institution receiving state recognition or aid from compelling its students to attend religious instruction or participate in religious worship without the consent of the student or their guardian. The NHRC cited this provision in its notice to the Telangana government.
Who else has responded to the Hyderabad school Kalma row?
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) issued a strong condemnation. VHP's Vinod Bansal called the incident 'a direct assault on children's constitutional rights and parents' trust,' and demanded strict action against the school management. Community members also joined parents in protests at the school.
