Faridabad education dept withdraws ‘love jihad’ circular after backlash

In an embarrassing episode for the Faridabad Education Department, authorities have withdrawn a controversial letter that warned schools about students allegedly skipping classes and engaging in “anti-social activities” and “love jihad”.

The letter, issued on Wednesday by the District Education Officer (DEO), went viral on social media, prompting criticism from education activists and political leaders alike. It was withdrawn a day later following intense backlash.

A copy of the letter, accessed by ‘The Tribune’, was titled in Hindi as concerning students “engaging in anti-social activities and love jihad in different parks, thereby disturbing the social fabric and polluting the environment.” It claimed that the department had received reports of schoolchildren bunking classes and gathering in local parks for activities that “disrupted public order and the education environment.”

The directive instructed schools to mark attendance within 30 minutes of the session beginning and to share the names of absentees in parent WhatsApp groups to ensure “immediate awareness.” It also called for stricter supervision of students and warned of departmental action, including penalties or administrative review, against schools failing to comply.

The letter described the move as a “proactive measure to safeguard youth from external influences.”

However, following public outrage and questions over the communal tone of the circular, the department annulled the letter on October 30, stating that it had not received any formal complaint.

A senior education department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the letter had been issued after a complaint was reportedly received through the CM Window, but was later withdrawn after verification revealed no such complaint existed.

DEO Anshu Garg remained unavailable for comment.

Education activists and opposition leaders slammed the department for introducing a communal angle into a disciplinary issue.

Noor Din Noor, an education activist, criticised the move, saying: “Student bunking classes, sitting in parks and all is still understandable, but ‘love jihad’? Should such terms be part of our academic dialogues?"

Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed also condemned the letter, calling it an example of institutionalised bias. “Will students now be targeted for misdoings based on religion? The Education Minister and even the Chief Minister must explain,” he said.