A child’s lunchbox usually carries a simple question: what did home pack for lunch today?
But at a school in Bhayander, Maharashtra, the contents of a student’s tiffin have become the subject of a civic inquiry.
A student at Tapovan Vidyalaya was reportedly stopped from eating a methi dish brought from home and was instead given food from the school canteen. The student was then asked to pay Rs. 20, according to an NDTV report. The school had also previously faced allegations of imposing Rs. 50 fines over other food items.
The issue came up during the period associated with Jain dietary practices around Paryushan and has now reached the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s education department.
Here is what happened, what children were reportedly charged for, and what authorities have done so far.
What Happened At The Bhayander School?
The school at the centre of the controversy is Tapovan Vidyalaya in Bhayander East.
According to reports, a student brought a dish made with green methi, or fenugreek leaves, in their tiffin. The student was reportedly told that fenugreek was a banned vegetable.
The student was allegedly not allowed to eat the food brought from home. Instead, food was provided from the school canteen and the student was asked to pay Rs. 20 for it. NDTV reported the incident on 22 September 2026.
The report followed an earlier complaint concerning other food restrictions at the same school.
Which Foods Were Children Reportedly Charged For?
The reported restrictions were linked to food items that the school allegedly did not permit students to carry during the period.
According to reports, students were reportedly fined Rs. 50 for bringing items including:
Onion
Potato
Ginger
Beetroot
Carrot
A later complaint concerned methi, after a student was reportedly given canteen food instead of being allowed to eat the methi dish brought from home and was charged Rs. 20.
Why Were These Foods Restricted?
The reports connect the restrictions to Jain dietary practices during Paryushan.
Paryushan is an important period of religious observance for Jains. In 2026, the Shwetambar Paryushan period began on 8 September, while the Digambar Das Lakshan period began on 16 September.
According to The Times of India, an MNS office-bearer who complained about the matter said a majority of students at Tapovan Vidyalaya belong to the Jain community and that parents were reportedly told at admission not to send non-vegetarian food and root vegetables in lunchboxes.
However, the school itself has not issued an official public response.
What Action Has Been Taken?
The issue has already moved beyond a complaint.
The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s education department issued a show-cause notice to Tapovan Vidyalaya on 17 September, following a complaint over the reported Rs. 50 fine. Education Officer Sulabha Vatare confirmed the action.
The notice reportedly states that schools cannot impose dietary restrictions on students and describes imposing fines for particular food items as a serious matter. It also refers to the Right to Education Act, students’ fundamental rights and state government rules.
A show-cause notice does not itself establish that the allegations have been proved. It asks the school to explain its position before further administrative action is considered.
This Is Not The Only Recent Tiffin Controversy
The Tapovan case comes days after another school-food controversy in the same broad region.
Seven Square School in Mira Road had issued an advisory asking students not to bring onion, garlic, potatoes, beetroot and other root vegetables during Paryushan. The school later withdrew the advisory after criticism.
The education department issued a show-cause notice, saying that such restrictions could put mental pressure on students and raise concerns under the RTE Act and constitutional values.
The two cases are separate, but they raise a similar question.
Where Does A School’s Rule End?
Schools can have rules around food safety, allergies, hygiene and nutrition. Maharashtra has also issued directions in 2026 for schools to follow food-safety and balanced-diet regulations.
But when a school restricts what children can bring from home because of a religious dietary practice, the question becomes more complicated.
A school may serve students from different families, communities and religious backgrounds. That raises questions about whether religious dietary practices followed by one group can be made into a compulsory rule for every child.
For now, the official process is still underway. The municipal education department has sought an explanation from Tapovan Vidyalaya, and the school's response will be relevant to determining what action, if any, follows.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
What happened at Tapovan Vidyalaya in Bhayander?
A student was reportedly stopped from eating methi brought from home and was given canteen food instead, for which Rs. 20 was charged.
Which foods were reportedly restricted?
Earlier reports alleged Rs. 50 fines for items including onion, potato, ginger, beetroot and carrot.
Why were these foods reportedly restricted?
The restrictions were linked in reports to Jain dietary practices during Paryushan.
What action has authorities taken?
The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s education department issued a show-cause notice to the school on 17 September 2026.
Does the notice prove the allegations?
No. It seeks the school's explanation. Further action would depend on the authorities' findings and the school's response.
What is the bigger issue?
The case raises questions about how schools should balance religious observances with students' individual food choices in a diverse school environment.
