Wrong to declare an institution as ‘religious’ merely because Shrimadbhagawadgeeta is taught there : Madras HC

The Court also clarified that the Geeta is not a religious text, but a moral science, and cannot be confined within the framework of a single religion.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – The Shrimadbhagawadgeeta is not a religious text, but a moral science. It is a part of Indian culture. Therefore, it cannot be limited to the framework of any one religion. It is wrong to declare an institution as ‘religious’ merely because the Geeta is taught there, the Madras High Court observed. The High Court also quashed the decision to deny registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to the ‘Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Trust’, which imparts education in Shrimadbhagawadgeeta and Yoga. This decision was given by a bench of Justice G.R. Swaminathan. The High Court quashed the Union Home Ministry’s decision to deny FCRA registration to this Gurukulam, stating that the decision was based on flaws.

📜 Justice Swaminathan, Madras High Court clarifies:
Calling an institution “religious” just because the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is taught there is wrong.

⚖️ The Court observed that the Gita is not merely a religious text, but a manual of ethics – beyond the limits of any one… pic.twitter.com/Vc4G7ote8b

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) December 24, 2025

1. The trust had applied for registration in 2021; however, the application was processed only in October 2024. The Court expressed displeasure over this delay and stated that ‘officials are expected to act impartially, which is a primary principle of good governance’. (The public feels that the Court should order action against those responsible for such delays – Editor).

2. The Arsha Vidya Trust had filed a petition seeking the Court’s intervention for a decision on registration under the law. Their application was rejected on two grounds. The first reason was that the petitioners had received foreign funds without prior permission, and the foreign funds were transferred as a donation to another institution. The second reason was that the organization was religious in nature. Citing these two reasons, the Union Home Ministry had rejected the application. Subsequently, a petition was filed in the Madras High Court against this decision.