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 Gujarat High Court has issued orders asking the Government of Gujarat not to take coercive measures against Shree Sachhidananda Vidhyalaya, a Catholic school in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, New Delhi has also summoned the district magistrate and collector of Bhavnagar to appear on 22 May 2007 with all the papers for the hearing of this case in New Delhi.
Justice Akshay H Mehta of Gujarat High Court has given clear orders to the Government of Gujarat, Chief Secretary, Secretary of Social Welfare Department, Director and Joint Director of Vikasati Jati Kalyan Vibhag not to resort to coercive measures against the school. The orders have been issued in response to a writ petition filed in the high court with the help of All India Christian Council (aicc). The Catholic school offers education to children of all religions in order to better their future. The Narendra Modi Government with the help of MLA Sunil Oza of Bhavnagar (South) has been trying to close the Catholic school. Samson C Christian, aicc national executive member and joint secretary, says, "Apparently, the Government and its representatives are trying to close this reputed institution which helps children from all communities because of the fast approaching the assembly elections." On 20 October 2006 Sunil Oza received the order from the Collector to hand over the possession of the said Catholic school to the government. The school with the help of All India Christian Council petitioned to the Special Secretary of the Revenue Department and got a Stay Order. Sunil Oza has distributed pamphlets in the area to increase communal tensions in Bhavnagar district and has put pressure upon the Collector of Bhavnagar District, Mamlatdar of Sihor, Police Inspector of Sihor Police Station, and Western Electricity Co Ltd. to act against the school. He has raised the issue in the last session of the State Assembly. Samson Christian says, "All India Christian Council strongly objects to the efforts to stop the Catholic School in Gujarat. We appeal to Chief Minister Narendra Modi to stop all anti-Christian activities and establish a peaceful atmosphere in the State."
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