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Journalism of Courage
Citing an order issued in 2004 by then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav,District Magistrate DM Shahjahanpur,Rajmani Yadav,has declared half day in all government primary schools on Friday so Muslims teachers can offer their juma namaz.
The normal timing of government primary schools during winters is from 10 am to 4 pm,which has now been changed to 7:30 am to 12:30 pm on Friday. Their namaz begins from 12:30,so I have changed the timings. It has been done on the basis of a 2004 government order, said Rajmani Yadav.
Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Katiyar,who was then state president of the BJP,had demanded similar relaxation for Hindus to offer puja on Tuesdays. The order was withdrawn by Mulayam,who subsequently issued another order authorising concerned DMs to take appropriate action. The issue was buried and no DM took the initiative. No demand was also made by Muslim groups.
I have no idea if the 2004 government order has been withdrawn. The order itself is not clear, Rajmani Yadav said. Earlier,he had sanctioned a one-hour special leave for Muslim teachers between 1 pm and 2 pm on Fridays to offer namaz while the schools were to remain open. It has now been amended by changing the school timings altogether.
Meanwhile,officials at Lucknows primary education department claimed there is no such order for half day closure of schools. There is no such government order in this regard. During my career I have never seen any such order issued by the government, Vasudev Yadav,director,primary education,stated. He,however,claimed that one hour leave for Muslim teachers on Fridays is a matter of mutual understanding.
Lallan Mishra,state president,Primary Teachers Union,also claimed that there is no provision for granting one hour special leave to Muslims on Friday to offer namaz. Koi kanoon nahin hai. If some DM has done this,it is his local jurisdiction8230; We do not object when they leave for namaz,but it is not a government order, he stated.
