Student penalised ₹50 for bringing methi to school, civic body sends notice to school
A school in Maharashtra, India, is under investigation after fining a student for bringing a vegetable dish to school during a religious festival. The local municipal corporation issued a show-cause notice to the school, citing violations of the Right to Education Act.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding the imposition of dietary and religious norms within educational institutions in India.
A fresh food row was triggered on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) at a school in the Mira-Bhayandar region of Thane District in Maharashtra after a student was allegedly charged ₹50 as a penalty for carrying methi bhaji (Fenugreek vegetable) in his tiffin during the Jain community’s Paryushan festival.
The Education Department of Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has issued a show cause notice to the school identified as Tapovan Vidyalaya, asking for an explanation for the incident and also visited the school on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).
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