The decision, communicated to parents via mobile messages, was justified by the school management on the grounds that most students skip classes on Fridays to attend weekly prayers, resulting in poor attendance.
BJP Minority Morcha objects, terms it ‘Tughlaki decree’
The BJP Minority Morcha has strongly opposed the school’s move, calling it arbitrary and against long-standing norms. Morcha General Secretary Muzammil Ali criticized the decision, saying that in its 117-year history, the school has never remained open on Sundays.
He accused the management of imposing the decision without consulting parents or students and urged the Collector to take strict action. In a formal complaint, the Morcha argued that the change would disrupt family routines and go against the state’s uniform holiday system, under which all schools remain closed on Sundays.
Management defends decision citing attendance issues
Responding to the criticism, School Manager Annu Anwar said that the Anjuman Islamia Group, which runs six schools and one college in Jabalpur, already observes Friday as a holiday in all institutions except the Malaviya Chowk branch.
He added that at this particular school, only 10–20 students out of around 700 attended classes on Fridays, prompting the management, principal, and teachers to make the change to avoid academic loss.
Education department seeks explanation
District Education Officer (DEO) Ghanshyam Soni said he was unaware of the order and asserted that the move violates state education norms, which require all schools to remain closed on Sundays. He added that the department will seek clarification from the school management on how the decision was made without official approval.
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