The Kerala government on Sunday issued a warning against attempts to restrict religious celebrations in schools, following reports that certain private school managements had cancelled Christmas events and refunded money collected from students.

Responding to the controversy, the state government said educational institutions would not be permitted to function as “communal laboratories”. It described such actions as unacceptable in Kerala, a state known for its secular ethos and democratic values, and said an urgent inquiry had been ordered.

The controversy emerged after CPM mouthpiece Deshabhimani reported that some Sangh Parivar-run schools and a privately managed Hindu institution had allegedly halted Christmas celebrations. However, both the RSS and the school management concerned denied the allegation.

General Education Minister V Sivankutty said Kerala would not tolerate practices that divide people along religious lines. “No one will be permitted to introduce the north Indian models that divide people on the basis of religion or belief in Kerala's educational institutions,” he told reporters.

The minister said schools play a crucial role in fostering unity among children, irrespective of caste or religion, and warned that attempts to inject divisive ideas into educational spaces would not be accepted.

He pointed out that state schools have long celebrated festivals such as Onam, Christmas and Eid together, helping students learn values of coexistence, mutual respect and love. Sivankutty described the decision by certain private school managements to cancel celebrations after collecting money from students and later refunding it as cruel, saying such actions emotionally hurt children.

“All schools, whether aided or unaided, are bound by the Constitution of India, education rules and laws of the country,” he said, adding that institutions have a duty to uphold secular values.

Warning of strict action, Sivankutty said schools would not be allowed to operate in ways that serve narrow political or communal agendas.

“Imposing restrictions selectively on the celebrations of any one community amounts to discrimination and will not be tolerated,” he said. He also stressed that any move undermining the dignity and traditions of Kerala’s public education system would be firmly resisted.

Clarifying the allegations, an RSS functionary said no such decision had been taken by schools associated with the organisation. “There is no possibility of taking such a decision. We are not against any sort of cultural celebrations,” he told PTI.

Meanwhile, the management of the Hindu-run school named in the report also denied imposing a ban on Christmas celebrations. “But a restriction is imposed on cutting cakes as part of the celebration in view of concerns of any possible food poisoning. But Christmas celebrations will be held as such,” the management said.

The minister said officials have been instructed to conduct an urgent inquiry and submit a report. He also noted that complaints had been received from students and parents regarding compulsory special classes scheduled during the upcoming Christmas vacation, and said such classes should not be conducted during holidays.