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Ahmedabad authorities have opened an inquiry into Anand Niketan School, Shilaj, after parents reported finding what they described as a piece of glass in a student’s snack and raised separate concerns about classroom reading material and the suspension of morning prayers. The allegations have sparked protests, an official notice and a pending inspection that could lead to fines or police action if lapses are confirmed.
What parents and local groups say
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Glass shard in school snack sparks probe: book from another faith fuels parent outrage
Parents, joined by representatives of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), gathered at the school saying a child discovered a glass‑like object in a mid‑day snack and handed it to a teacher. Protesters also complained that students were being encouraged to read material tied to another religion and that the school’s morning prayer has not been held for several weeks.
Those concerns prompted a formal complaint to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s health and food safety department and drew rapid attention from the district education office.
School’s account and health checks
The school trustee acknowledged the complaint but disputed the claim that the child swallowed the object, saying the student spat it out and that subsequent scans showed no internal injury. He added the contested book came from a voluntary school book club and was not part of the formal curriculum; the title cited by parents was by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, included among a small rotating selection in classrooms.
Trustee statements emphasized that the book was intended for voluntary reading only and not as compulsory instructional material.
- Allegation: Glass piece found in snack; handed to teacher.
- Health response: Student examined; imaging reportedly clear.
- Religious concerns: Claims about morning prayers being stopped and required reading of material tied to another faith.
- Complaints filed: AMC health and food safety department and the district education office notified.
Official action and potential consequences
Ahmedabad’s district education officer has issued a notice to the school and ordered an investigation by an education inspector. The school has been asked to provide an explanation within 24 hours and to take internal action against any staff found negligent. Officials have also said a police complaint should be filed if the probe establishes criminal negligence.
The notice warns of a possible penalty — up to Rs 10,000 per student — if regulatory violations are confirmed. Authorities stressed that any direction or practice that “hurts the religious sentiments” of students and parents would prompt further action.
Meetings and next steps
Education department representatives met with parents and VHP members at the school to hear grievances. An education inspector will complete the investigation, and further measures will depend on those findings.
The immediate priorities for officials are to verify the food‑safety claim, confirm the facts around the alleged swallowing incident, and determine whether any school policy contravened guidelines on religious neutrality and parental consent for reading material.
For the community, the case underscores two intersecting concerns: the physical safety of students in school‑provided meals and the sensitivity of curricular and extracurricular reading in a diverse classroom.
