Story perspectives

Education Department Issues Notice Over Rs 50 Lunch Fine

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 4:16 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Fine breaches RE Act

Tapovan School in Bhayander fined a student Rs 50 for bringing fenugreek in his lunchbox.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena official Robert D'Souza filed a complaint, prompting the municipal education department to issue a show-cause notice alleging the fine breaches the Right to Education Act.
The school told parents the Rs 50 charge covered an alternative canteen meal.
Education Officer Sulabha Vatare warned school of action if it fails to justify fine.

Right

Religious Veg Ban

Tapovan Vidyalaya in Bhayander fined a student Rs 50 for bringing a fenugreek dish in lunchbox in September 2026.
The school, affiliated with the Jain community, enforces Paryushan’s ban on root vegetables, labeling fenugreek a “banned vegetable” and applying charge as a religious rule.
Parents argue the Rs 50 fee is a disguised fine, not a regular canteen charge.
Complaints noted Rs 50 fines for onions, potatoes, ginger, beetroot and carrots during the festival.

Blindspot

The school is linked to the Jain community, which bans root vegetables like fenugreek during the Paryushan festival; a notebook marked the legume as “banned,” and similar Rs 50 fines were previously issued for onions, potatoes, ginger, beetroot and carrots.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Right-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The 1992 Supreme Court decision in Mohini Jain v. Karnataka declared education part of the right to life, overturning Rs 60,000 fee caps for out-state students. The 86th Amendment of 2002 made the Right to Education a right, guiding the September 2026 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena challenge to a Rs 50 fine at Tapovan Vidyalaya and its effect on minority school discipline.

1 of 4

Fine breaches RE Act

Tapovan School in Bhayander fined a student Rs 50 for bringing fenugreek in his lunchbox.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena official Robert D'Souza filed a complaint, prompting the municipal education department to issue a show-cause notice alleging the fine breaches the Right to Education Act.
The school told parents the Rs 50 charge covered an alternative canteen meal.
Education Officer Sulabha Vatare warned school of action if it fails to justify fine.

1 / 4